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MA H5158

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/29/2026

Primary Sponsor

Andres Vargas

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

194th General Court

AI Summary

  • Prohibits state and local law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status, sharing nonpublic personal information with federal immigration authorities, or using resources to facilitate civil immigration enforcement, except when required by federal/state law or judicial warrant

  • Bans civil immigration arrests at courthouses unless supported by a judicial warrant, and prohibits court officers from detaining individuals solely on civil immigration process or providing federal agents access to nonpublic courthouse areas

  • Requires state/county correctional facilities housing federal immigration detainees to provide written notices of legal rights in the detainee's primary language, maintain confidential attorney communication lines, update electronic locator systems within 6 hours of intake or transfer, and allow one free phone call within 2 hours of intake

  • Mandates that certifying entities respond to U-visa and T-visa certification requests within 30 days (or 10 business days for those in active removal proceedings), establishes a rebuttable presumption of victim helpfulness, and prohibits fees for processing requests

  • Prohibits law enforcement agencies (except Department of Correction) from entering 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities that deputize local personnel for civil immigration enforcement, with limited exceptions requiring secretary approval and 12-month sunset provisions

Legislative Description

Promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment ("The PROTECT Act")

Last Action

Hearing scheduled for 03/18/2026 from 09:00 AM-12:00 PM in A-2

3/6/2026

Committee Referrals

Public Safety and Homeland Security2/2/2026
Rules1/29/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available