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Is Massachusetts a sanctuary state? Is Boston a sanctuary city?

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Shaun Ganley/WCVB
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SOURCE: Shaun Ganley/WCVB
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Updated: 11:44 AM EST Jan 28, 2025
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Is Massachusetts a sanctuary state? Is Boston a sanctuary city?
WCVB logo
Updated: 11:44 AM EST Jan 28, 2025
Editorial Standards
With President Donald Trump's new administration cracking down on immigration and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu being called to testify at an upcoming congressional hearing on so-called "sanctuary cities," you may be wondering what that term means and whether it applies to any Massachusetts communities or the state overall. Although the term "sanctuary" does not have a universal legal definition, it generally refers to a state or city’s law enforcement that does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.Gov. Maura Healey recently reiterated that Massachusetts is not a so-called "sanctuary state." However, Massachusetts has a 2017 ruling from the Supreme Judicial Court that found the state law “provides no authority for Massachusetts court officers to arrest and hold an individual solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer.” This led organizations like the Centers for Immigration Studies to identify Massachusetts as a sanctuary state.Several communities have also passed and implemented ordinances that limit local interference with federal immigration enforcement to varying degrees. These cities include Cambridge, Boston, Northampton, Medford, Lexington and Amherst.In Boston, the policy is known as the Trust Act, which was first introduced in 2014. "We are not participating in the federal government's actions," Wu said Tuesday. "We cannot overrule what they do, just as they cannot overrule or step into what is within our domain here at the local level and within our domain. We're very clear in schools, in interactions with public safety officials (and) in community centers we don't ask about immigration status. We hold everyone accountable, regardless of immigration status, for any crimes or harm. That's committed. And we also work very hard to ensure that there's full access to services, regardless of immigration status. And for everyone in our community. What we have proven and what we see in Boston every day is that the entire community is safer when everyone feels like they can trust reaching out for help, going to their neighbor, or taking their kids to school, reporting crimes if they have information, calling 911 when they need help."Wu's office cited human trafficking, child exploitation, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and cybercrime as examples of criminal cases where the city would cooperate with federal investigators.This week, Wu was called to testify at an upcoming hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2025. Committee Chairman James Comer also announced he would be launching an investigation into the policies.

With President Donald Trump's new administration cracking down on immigration and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu being called to testify at an upcoming congressional hearing on so-called "sanctuary cities," you may be wondering what that term means and whether it applies to any Massachusetts communities or the state overall.

Although the term "sanctuary" does not have a universal legal definition, it generally refers to a state or city’s law enforcement that does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

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Gov. Maura Healey recently reiterated that Massachusetts is not a so-called "sanctuary state."

However, Massachusetts has a 2017 ruling from the Supreme Judicial Court that found the state law “provides no authority for Massachusetts court officers to arrest and hold an individual solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer.” This led organizations like the Centers for Immigration Studies to identify Massachusetts as a sanctuary state.

Several communities have also passed and implemented ordinances that limit local interference with federal immigration enforcement to varying degrees. These cities include Cambridge, Boston, Northampton, Medford, Lexington and Amherst.

In Boston, the policy is known as the Trust Act, which was first introduced in 2014.

"We are not participating in the federal government's actions," Wu said Tuesday. "We cannot overrule what they do, just as they cannot overrule or step into what is within our domain here at the local level and within our domain. We're very clear in schools, in interactions with public safety officials (and) in community centers we don't ask about immigration status. We hold everyone accountable, regardless of immigration status, for any crimes or harm. That's committed. And we also work very hard to ensure that there's full access to services, regardless of immigration status. And for everyone in our community. What we have proven and what we see in Boston every day is that the entire community is safer when everyone feels like they can trust reaching out for help, going to their neighbor, or taking their kids to school, reporting crimes if they have information, calling 911 when they need help."

Wu's office cited human trafficking, child exploitation, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and cybercrime as examples of criminal cases where the city would cooperate with federal investigators.

This week, Wu was called to testify at an upcoming hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2025.

Committee Chairman James Comer also announced he would be launching an investigation into the policies.