Statement in Response to Immigration Enforcement in Massachusetts Courts

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice is deeply disturbed by reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) has begun seizing and detaining immigrants at the Commonwealth’s courthouses, and particularly by reports that such conduct may be facilitated by court personnel or local law enforcement.

We are urging the Trial Court to demand that ICE cease and desist from such conduct, which undermines the public’s sense of security in accessing justice. We are also urging the Court to immediately investigate whether any court personnel are facilitating this conduct in any way; to terminate any personnel found to have done so; and to notify all court personnel that such entanglement with federal immigration enforcement is improper and potentially illegal.

The letter to the Court and a related public records request are attached below.