February Newsletter
- LWV SouthCoast
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Dear Members & Friends,
This month’s newsletter provides an overview of Immigration Enforcement and Civic Engagement across national, state, and local levels throughout January, along with a statement from the LWVUS.
January brought heightened attention to U.S. immigration enforcement, with increased activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Expanded operations at the border and within the nation’s interior underscored how immigration policy continues to shape national and local conversations about the rule of law, public safety, and civil liberties.
These developments had broad ripple effects. Interior enforcement actions raised concerns among communities, local governments, and service providers about due process and community trust, while others emphasized the federal government’s responsibility to enforce existing laws. Together, these dynamics intensified public debate and highlighted immigration as an issue that affects workplaces, schools, healthcare access, and civic life far beyond the border.
For voters, January’s events serve as a reminder that immigration policy is guided through democratic institutions. Congress sets the legal framework and funding, the executive branch establishes enforcement priorities, and the courts provide constitutional oversight. Informed civic participation, staying educated, engaging elected officials, participating in public dialogue, and voting remain the most effective ways citizens can influence policy direction and accountability.
As a nonpartisan organization committed to informed and active participation in government, the League of Women Voters encourages members to continue learning about these issues and engaging thoughtfully in the democratic process. Sustainable change depends on an informed electorate and a shared commitment to constitutional principles.
Eileen J. Marum
Chair, League of Women Voters SouthCoast
Statement from the League of Women Voters on Federal Immigration Enforcement and the Erosion of Constitutional Rights
WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement in response to the continued escalation of federal military activity in Minnesota from federal immigration officials:
“The League of Women Voters condemns the escalating actions by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that put people at risk, deny individuals their constitutional rights, and undermine the democratic values meant to protect us all.
“We are horrified by federal immigration enforcement operations that deliberately infringe upon First Amendment rights to assemble and dissent. The use of intimidation, surveillance, and deadly force against lawful protestors is not public safety—it is repression. The use of lethal force against people exercising their constitutional rights is unacceptable and must be fully investigated. These fatalities, followed by false narratives designed to obscure the truth and impede oversight, represent a historic abuse of power we’ve never seen as a country. Democracy cannot endure when its government uses violence to silence dissent and evade accountability.
“The League of Women Voters will continue to organize, speak out, and act to ensure no agency is above the law. We call on Congress to investigate these actions and require accountability measures on the Department of Homeland Security. ICE and other federal immigration officials must cooperate with the appropriate level of law enforcement when civilians are hurt or killed and face accountability when they fail to comply. The League will continue to mount a unified response that defends constitutional rights, protects civic participation, and demands accountability for abuses of power.
“We will continue our partnership with LULAC, Common Cause, and additional partners to hold ICE accountable and amplify our concerns on its lack of transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance.
“The League of Women Voters reaffirms that the rights outlined in the Constitution belong to all people, without exception. We will not accept policies or practices that suppress civic participation, weaponize enforcement, or undermine fundamental rights and human dignity.”
**LWVSC The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest civil rights organization for Latinos in the United States. It was founded in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, during a period when Mexican Americans and other Latinos faced widespread discrimination, including segregation in schools, exclusion from juries, voter suppression, and unequal access to jobs. Politically, LULAC has been important because it helped establish Latinos as a significant force within American democratic institutions.
State Power, Federal Force, and the Limits of Protection
In the aftermath of the killings of two American citizens by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in January, Renée Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24, both 37 years old, questions about the health of American democracy have moved sharply to the center of public debate. What had long been an abstract concern about immigration enforcement has, for many, become a concrete reckoning with the reach of federal power, the fragility of civil rights, and the role states can play when federal authorities are accused of overreach.
In the days following the killings, local and state leaders across the country called for accountability and restraint. Few states, however, have responded as forcefully or as visibly as Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Pushes Back
Massachusetts officials have framed the deaths not simply as isolated incidents, but as evidence of a broader breakdown in oversight and proportionality in federal immigration enforcement. Governor Maura Healey and other state leaders have criticized federal agents, arguing that their aggressive enforcement tactics undermine public safety rather than enhance it. Their message has been consistent: when federal operations place residents, citizens, and non-citizens alike at risk, states have a responsibility to intervene where they lawfully can.
That intervention has taken several forms. State leaders have proposed new limits on how and where federal immigration agents may operate when state resources or facilities are involved, particularly in so-called “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, courthouses, and houses of worship. The goal is not to block federal enforcement outright, something states lack the constitutional authority to do, but to ensure that Massachusetts does not actively facilitate actions that may violate civil liberties or chill access to essential services.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell and members of the state’s congressional delegation have echoed this approach, emphasizing oversight, transparency, and civil-rights protections. Several lawmakers have called for investigations into federal use of force and for structural reforms to immigration enforcement agencies, including tighter rules of engagement and clearer lines of accountability.
The Limits—and Power—of States
The Massachusetts response highlights a central tension in American federalism. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, and states cannot legally prevent federal agents from operating within their borders. Yet states retain significant power over their own personnel, facilities, data, and law-enforcement priorities. By limiting cooperation, refusing to share certain information, and declining to provide logistical support, states can meaningfully shape how federal enforcement is experienced on the ground.
This strategy has become increasingly common in recent years, but the January killings have intensified the stakes. Supporters argue that such measures are essential to protect civil rights and maintain trust between immigrant communities and local institutions. Critics counter that limiting cooperation risks undermining the rule of law and creating a patchwork of enforcement across the country.
Massachusetts officials have largely rejected that framing, instead casting their actions as a defense of constitutional norms. From this perspective, the issue is not whether immigration law should be enforced, but whether enforcement can transpire without excessive force, secrecy, or disregard for due process.
Implications for National Policy
The political impact of these events is already rippling beyond state borders. Calls for federal investigations and legislative reform have grown louder, and public opinion appears increasingly skeptical of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. Proposals once considered fringe, such as restructuring or even abolishing ICE, are now part of mainstream political conversation, fueled by concerns about accountability and civilian safety.
Massachusetts’ response may serve as a model for other states seeking to navigate the narrow space between resistance and compliance. By asserting control over state resources while pressing for federal reform, the state is testing how far subnational governments can go in protecting residents without triggering direct constitutional conflict.
A Broader Democratic Question
At its core, the debate sparked by the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti is about more than immigration policy. It is about democratic governance: who wields force, under what constraints, and with what consequences when things go wrong. The Massachusetts response reflects a growing belief among state leaders that safeguarding civil rights sometimes requires confronting federal power, not by defying the law, but by insisting that it be exercised within clear moral and constitutional limits.
As investigations continue and policy debates unfold, the question remains unresolved: how far should states go to protect their communities from federal enforcement actions they view as dangerous or unjust? Massachusetts has offered one answer, measured, confrontational, and rooted in federalism, but the national reckoning is far from over.
Upcoming Advocacy Days
Join the Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants (MAHT) for their advocacy day on Thursday, February 11 at 9:30 AM at the State House. Cookie Day is an annual advocacy event where low-income tenants, families, providers, elected officials, and community members unite to expand and deepen the impact of the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). Find more information and register HERE.
LWVMA is co-sponsoring Menstrual Equity Advocacy Day on Thursday, February 26, at 10:00 AM at the State House. Bringing feminists and menstrual activists to the State House to meet with their legislators is crucial in getting our priorities across the finish line. The Senate passed An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products on October 16, and this day will focus on getting the bill to the House floor for a vote. Read more and register HERE.
Register today for the MA Coalition for the Homeless 2026 Legislative Action Day on Thursday, March 5, at 9:30 AM at the State House. Hosted by State Representative Jim O'Day, advocates will make policy recommendations to address homelessness in Massachusetts.
Join us for the 30th annual Immigrants at the State House on Wednesday, March 18, at 9:30 AM, sponsored by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). Register HERE. Together, we will help shape policies that reflect the needs, dignity, and humanity of our immigrant communities. Legislators need to hear from their own constituents and advocates—now more than ever—about the issues that matter most and the bills required to address them.
Protecting Our Neighbors, Strengthening Our Community
In a city built by immigrants, equal justice is not optional; it is who we are.
The Massachusetts Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law to all people, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. For New Bedford and the SouthCoast, this promise is deeply rooted in our history. From its days as a global whaling port to today, New Bedford has been shaped by immigrants—Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Central American, and many others, who built our economy, culture, and neighborhoods.
Grounded in League values, the League of Women Voters SouthCoast urges our legislators to act now to protect immigrant communities and uphold constitutional principles that strengthen public safety for everyone.
Keep Local Police Focused on Public Safety
Massachusetts law enforcement must not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in civil immigration enforcement. Police should never detain individuals when no crime has been committed or question residents about their immigration status. These practices erode trust and make communities less safe.
ICE is pressuring local police departments to enter 287(g) agreements, which deputize local officers as ICE agents. We urge the legislature and Governor Healey to ban new 287(g) agreements and prohibit police from questioning residents about immigration status. In New Bedford, where neighbors rely on one another and on local institutions, trust in law enforcement is essential.
Guarantee Due Process Through Legal Representation
The Immigrant Legal Defense Act (ILDA) would create a statewide, publicly funded program providing no-cost legal representation to immigrants at risk of deportation. Legal counsel is often the difference between remaining with one’s family and being permanently separated. Detained immigrants with attorneys are ten times more likely to win their cases, yet many face deportation alone.
Why This Matters Here and Now
Nearly 80 percent of people detained by ICE in Massachusetts have no criminal record. Detentions of students, parents, and long-term residents during everyday activities have spread fear in immigrant communities like ours. When local police are seen as extensions of ICE, residents are less likely to report crimes or seek help, hurting everyone.
Take Action
Immigration policy may be federal, but Massachusetts has both the authority and responsibility to protect its residents. Contact your legislators and call Governor Healey at 617-725-4005. Standing up for immigrant rights honors New Bedford’s history and strengthens justice, safety, and democracy on the SouthCoast.
February Meeting details below
Also, please start thinking about planning for a Candidates’ Night in your community. Many SouthCoast elections are in May!
Thank you.
Eileen J. Marum
Related Resources
Amid increased immigration enforcement activity across Massachusetts, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a ‘Know Your Rights’ guide designed to help immigrants, families, and communities understand their rights and the basic legal framework for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
To guide immigrants and employers in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and MIRA: Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Inc. recently released a helpful document, "What Immigrants and their Employers Need to Know before an ICE Arrest," which can be found here.
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From The State League
Reminder: New Member Mingle
Please join us for LWVMA’s first New Member Mingle on Tuesday, February 24, at 7 PM on Zoom.
We’ll share a brief overview of LWVMA, including our staff, state Board, state committees, and local Leagues, followed by small-group conversations and a quick look at upcoming events. Whether you’re a new member or would like to connect, we hope you’ll join us.
Please click HERE to register, and feel free to invite a non-member friend if they are interested in learning more about the League.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office maintains an Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) with ICE to jail ICE detainees–the only one in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts should not participate in federal mass deportations. We can’t stop ICE, but we can shine a spotlight on the Plymouth County Sheriff’s office imprisonment of our neighbors, who are not criminals, and their complicity in federal removal operations.
The Massachusetts Constitution guarantees equal protection under all laws to all people, regardless of nationality, citizenship, or immigration status.When due process is denied to any group, it weakens the rule of law for all of us. The League of Women Voters supports due process for all persons, including the right to a fair hearing, the right to counsel, the right of appeal, and the right to humane treatment, and that no person or group should suffer legal discrimination.
Safety Note:
This is a heavy traffic intersection. We will follow safety protocols to avoid blocking street traffic. Review LWV peaceful protest guidance HERE. We will only be gathering along the sidewalk and grassy areas near the main intersection.
Logistics:
We will have due process rights signs available. You are welcome to bring your own signs focusing on policies and not people.
Due to our nonpartisan policy and to ensure a coordinated effort, we ask that all signs focus on issues related to supporting or advocating for immigrant communities and focus on due process or immigration policies.
Parking is available at the Home Depot parking lot or the shopping plazas off of Long Pond Road in Plymouth. Please do not park at the Sheriff’s office or police station. Amenities are available at the Shell Gas Station and Alltown Fresh Gas Station, both on Long Pond Road. Questions? Contact lwvma@lwvma.org.
This month's cover art is by Shepard Fairey, Website.
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