Letter: ICE Actions Threaten the Rights of All Massachusetts Residents

As the Trump administration’s immigration authorities detain, imprison and remove residents from our communities,  the silence and inaction of our state leaders is shameful. Worse still , Governor Healy is constantly repeating that “Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state.”  Incredibly, she seems to have more sympathy for the ICE thugs than for their victims.

In Worcester last week, neighbors trying to prevent ICE from abducting a mother  were violently dealt with by Worcester police. Reports this week indicate that federal officers left a 12 year-old alone on the sidewalk in Waltham, after arresting his guardian. Meanwhile, residents in Framingham are protesting the shocking detention of a young Guatemalan man with no criminal record. These are unfortunately just some of many stories of the Trump regime bringing fear and chaos to our state. These actions make our communities unsafe and threaten the rights of all Massachusetts residents. When some of us lose our right to due process, that right is threatened for all of us.  Perhaps these courageous people in Worcester & Framingham understand the danger we are in better than our leaders in Boston.

It took three months for the state legislature to even tell us how they would prepare for the attacks we were expecting from the incoming Trump Administration.  After the long silence, they came out with “Response 2025.” As best as I can tell this document says, “We’ll form a committee and hold secret meetings to decide what to do.”  Forgive me for being underwhelmed.  

Massachusetts residents are being abducted off the street by ICE right now.  Meanwhile, the House and Senate are sitting on critical pieces of legislation, like the Safe Communities Act, that could help protect residents. It’s past time for the legislature and governor of our state to stand up for all the people of our state.  

Brooks Ballenger
Brooks Ballenger is a resident of Amherst.