SECTION 1. Chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 20R the following section:-
Section 20S: Honoring Federal Immigration Detainers Issued by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Section 20S. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “law enforcement agency” shall include but not be limited to any state, municipal, college or university police department, sheriff’s department, correctional facility, prosecutorial office, court, probation office, or any other non-federal entity in the commonwealth charged with the enforcement of laws or the custody of detained persons. Upon receipt of a written request from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting detention of an individual on the grounds that there is probable cause that such person is a removable alien, law enforcement agencies shall comply with the terms of any detainer request received under any of the following circumstances:
(i) The individual has been convicted or charged with an aggravated felony offense as defined in 8 USC § 1101(a)(43), including but not limited to, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, illicit drug trafficking, and illicit firearms trafficking.
(ii) The individual has been convicted or charged with a violent crime as defined in 18 USC § 16.
(iii) The individual has been convicted or charged with a criminal street gang offense as defined in 18 USC § 521.
(iv) The individual has been convicted or charged with a terrorism offense as defined in 18 USC Chapter 113B.
(b) Any law enforcement agency employee shall comply with a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention request if said employee determines that the alien poses a threat to public safety, or other compelling argument supporting the alien’s detention.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.