Demanding Independent State Probe into Everett Police Role in ICE Detention of 13-Year-Old Child
Civil rights group calls for urgent state action after Everett police involvement in ICE detention of 13-year-old child
Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is calling for an immediate state investigation after Everett police detained and reportedly transferred a 13-year-old child to ICE custody. LCR is demanding urgent action from the Commonwealth to determine whether local law enforcement violated state law by unlawfully facilitating a federal immigration arrest.
In an open letter sent to the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretary for Public Safety and Security, LCR urges the Commonwealth to take decisive steps to protect youth in custody and restore public trust in law enforcement:
- Investigate the circumstances of the 13-year-old’s detention to determine whether Everett police officers unlawfully extended his custody to facilitate an ICE arrest. The Commonwealth should appoint an independent investigator to examine the precise timeline and sequence of police actions and related events.
- Issue updated guidance and mandatory training for all state and local law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with Massachusetts law, strictly limiting entanglement with federal immigration enforcement.
- Establish an independent state-level oversight body or task force to monitor compliance with state law and constitutional protections.
- Actively refer law enforcement officers with repeated violations of state law to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission’s Office of Police Accountability and Decertification.
- Provide adequate compensation and support to affected families whose rights have been violated.
“This chilling incident exposes what may be a dangerous breakdown in legal protections for immigrants in our state—and the fact that it involves a child makes it even more alarming,” said Jillian Lenson, Senior Staff Attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights.
“Local and state officials have a responsibility to protect children, not funnel them into federal immigration detention,” said Brooke Simone, Staff Attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights. “This kind of conduct destroys public trust and strikes fear in entire communities. In Massachusetts, it’s not just wrong—it’s unlawful,” added Simone.
In Massachusetts, the law is unequivocal: local police cannot prolong someone’s detention or assist ICE in making an arrest. Lawyers for Civil Rights is calling on the Commonwealth to investigate the circumstances of the Everett child’s detention, ensure that all law enforcement agencies comply with this well-established legal precedent, and hold accountable any officials who violate it. As ICE activity escalates across Massachusetts, the Commonwealth must act swiftly to safeguard the constitutional and civil rights of all residents.
The open letter is available here.
