Press Release  Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell Launch State Portal to Report ICE Misconduct 

Boston — Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced the launch of a new online portal that allows Massachusetts residents to report alleged misconduct by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating within the state. The portal is available at mass.gov/fedmisconduct.

The portal provides a centralized place for individuals, families, attorneys and community members to document incidents involving members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agencies that enforce civil immigration laws. The portal is designed to help the state identify patterns of potential misconduct, support affected residents, and inform possible legal or policy actions by the state.

“We’ve seen across the country and here in Massachusetts that the tactics of ICE under the Trump Administration have been putting everyone at risk. The people of Massachusetts deserve to know that their rights will be respected, their safety protected and their concerns about misconduct taken seriously,” said Governor Healey. “This new reporting portal will help us gather information, support residents and ensure federal agents operating in our state are following the law.”

“The core duty of law enforcement, including federal law enforcement, is to keep our communities safe. But what we have seen from ICE in recent months across the country is the opposite: aggressive and reckless tactics that spread fear and chaos in our communities,” said Attorney General Campbell. “As my office works to ensure residents are protected and have access to the legal assistance they need, I encourage everyone to use this new reporting portal if they see concerning ICE activity in their communities.”

The portal will allow members of the public to share information about incidents involving potentially unlawful activity by federal agents in Massachusetts, including videos and photographs. Information submitted through the portal may help the state identify patterns of potential misconduct, inform possible legal action or policy recommendations, and connect affected residents with legal advocacy organizations.

Today, AG Campbell also released updated ‘Know Your Rights’ guidance designed to help immigrants, families, and communities understand their rights and the basic legal framework for ICE actions. Notably, the updated guidance includes timely information about holding federal immigration officials accountable, the role of U.S. Customs and Border Protection given their increased activity in recent ICE surges, the rights of protestors, and new executive orders at the state and local level. The updated guidance can be found on the AGO’s Immigrant Resources webpage and read in its entirety here.

The launch of the portal follows several actions taken by Governor Healey to hold ICE accountable and to increase transparency and accountability around federal immigration enforcement in Massachusetts.

Earlier this week, Governor Healey requested that Signature Aviation stop supporting deportation flights out of Hanscom Field in Massachusetts. She also demanded that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE provide greater transparency and accurate information regarding immigration arrests and detention practices in Massachusetts, including information about who is being detained, the legal basis for those arrests, and where individuals have been taken and are being held.

In addition, the Governor has filed legislation to prohibit ICE operations in sensitive locations such as courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals, and places of worship, and signed an executive order requiring judicial warrants for entry into non-public areas of state facilities, limiting the use of state resources for civil immigration enforcement, and restricting participation in federal 287(g) agreements absent a clear public safety need.

Statements of Support:

Senate President Karen Spilka:

“Under Donald Trump, we have seen federal immigration enforcement devolve into reckless tactics that terrorize communities and erode basic civil rights. Massachusetts cannot sit quietly while federal agents abuse their authority and put our residents at risk.This reporting portal sends a clear message: if federal officials violate the law or trample on the rights of people in our state, we will document it, expose it, and do everything possible to hold them to account. The Senate stands unequivocally with the Governor and the Attorney General in their work to protect our residents.”

District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Suffolk:

“In our capital city of Boston, Suffolk County and all of Massachusetts, our leadership stands united in support of our good and hard-working residents in our immigrant communities. I commend Governor Healey and AG Campbell for their bold step in establishing this Portal. My Office’s primary job is to maintain public safety by holding offenders accountable and securing justice for victims. Many ICE tactics under the Trump administration hinder us from doing that.  People have the right to peacefully protest and monitor law enforcement activities without threat of violence or detention. My office will always safeguard against any violation of those rights. I encourage our federal partners to work with, not against, state and local law enforcement and to carry out their duties in a lawful, transparent and non-violent manner.”

District Attorney Dave Sullivan, Northwestern:

“This portal initiative, giving citizens the opportunity to report alleged criminal misconduct by ICE agents, sends a clear message that Massachusetts cares deeply about public safety, civil rights, and constitutional rights. At its core, this effort by Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell is about accountability and integrity. I believe fear is not a public safety strategy. It fractures trust, weakens cooperation, and ultimately makes our communities less safe. Strong communities depend on trust in the institutions that serve them. My office will always stand in defense of the Constitution and the rule of law. We will not remain silent when government power, at any level, is used in ways that undermine those principles. In Massachusetts, no person is above the law, and accountability must apply to everyone.”

District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue, Berkshire: 

“I commend Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for creating this portal. The recent actions of ICE breeched citizens’ constitutional rights and created chaos in communities. Governor Healey has already taken proactive measures to protect Massachusetts’ residents from this rogue agency, including the steps outlined in her January executive action and legislation. I believe this portal will provide additional support and resources for those harmed by unlawful actions of ICE. Additionally, the portal will serve as a tool for citizens who witness suspected unlawful actions of ICE but are unclear of where or how to report them.”

Josiane Martinez, Chair, Governor's Latino Empowerment Council:

“Massachusetts residents deserve to know that their rights will be respected regardless of who is enforcing the law. I commend Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell for creating a clear and accessible way for communities to document concerns about the actions of ICE agents operating in our state. When families feel safe and trust the institutions around them, our communities are stronger. This portal helps ensure transparency, accountability, and respect for the civil rights of everyone who calls Massachusetts home.” 

Tanisha Sullivan, Chair, Governor’s Black Empowerment Council:

“Massachusetts must remain a place where civil rights are protected and residents can safely report concerns without fear. This portal is an important step toward transparency, accountability, and ensuring that everyone in our Commonwealth is treated with dignity under the law.” 

Marjean Perhot, Vice President, Refugee and Immigrant Services, Catholic Charities Boston:

“At Catholic Charities Boston, every day we see clients across our programs living in a state of fear and anxiety. We are committed to protecting their rights to access vital services, including nutritious food for the most vulnerable children, elderly, and families. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to keep families together and safe.”

Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition: 

“Today, Massachusetts builds on its long history of protecting immigrant rights and safety. We are grateful to Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for creating an easily accessible place for the people of Massachusetts to go and assist in keeping all who call the Commonwealth home safe in these challenging times. The federal government’s continued use of violent, secret and militaristic tactics must stop and, whenever possible, called out, reported and investigated. This portal will help people, their families, attorneys and community members to safely and effectively report incidents involving ICE, CBP and other federal agencies. We encourage individuals to use it and ensure we can protect all of our legal and civil rights.” 

Lenita Reason, Executive Director, Brazilian Worker’s Center:

“The launch of this new portal represents an important step toward protecting our society. Since the beginning of last year, we had to change the way we educate our communities regarding to their civil rights. With this initiative, Governor Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell are providing an important response that strengthens accountability and offers meaningful support to our communities.”

Doris Landaverde, Coordinator, Massachusetts TPS Committee: 

“We have witnessed the termination of TPS for 13 countries. Even though many of these cases are still pending in court, thousands of people remain without protection from deportation. A portal where community members can document ICE arrests and the violence taking place in Massachusetts is critical. It allows immigrant communities to report abuses, make their experiences visible, and demand accountability.”

Rabbi James Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts:

“Immigrant families are our neighbors and want the opportunity to build lives of meaning in their home. Ripping people away from their community where they are soccer coaches, teachers, frontline service and healthcare workers is fundamentally harmful to the Commonwealth and unamerican. I am grateful that Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell have launched this new resource to help community members protect one another. It is a reminder that the word "neighbor" is not a geographic concept, but rather a moral one that speaks to our shared values of human dignity and integrity. Thank you for the opportunity - and please pass on my thanks to the Governor and her team. We are lucky to have their continued support.”

Cindy Rowe, President and CEO of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action:

"We know that ICE is operating outside of moral and constitutional boundaries, causing harm to our neighbors and instilling fear throughout our communities. This new portal will provide a way for us all to put ICE on notice that if they violate our rights, we will be documenting their actions and holding them accountable for how they treat our Massachusetts residents.”

Lino Covarrubias, CEO, Jewish Family Service of Metrowest:

"In Judaism, the commandment to care for the stranger—the immigrant—appears more often in our sacred text the Torah than any other moral teaching. This reflects the deep historical experience of the Jewish people as a migratory community since the Exodus from Egypt. Creating a state system that allows residents to report concerns about the treatment of immigrant families can help ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness while Federal immigration laws are enforced. Such a system helps strengthen trust and supports the goal we all share: safe, thriving communities for everyone. For JFS, this is both a practical step and a reflection of our values.”

Mariam Gas, Executive Director, Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (Boston):

“Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell's new initiative - the new state portal to report abuses and misconduct by ICE agents sends a clear message of support to residents, including those with refugee and immigrant backgrounds, that Massachusetts takes their civil rights seriously and are willing to check the power of the federal government. This type of accountability makes America great.” 

Jeff Thielman, President and CEO, International Institute of New England (IINE):

“When one of our immigrant community members feels unsafe, we all suffer. We applaud Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for their commitment to protecting our state’s most vulnerable residents. Efforts like this help ensure accountability and that everyone in Massachusetts finds dignity and protection.” 

Angela Bovill, CEO and President, Ascentria Care Alliance:

“We thank Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for their leadership in advancing transparency and accountability in government. Providing residents with a clear way to report alleged misconduct helps reinforce the principle that all law enforcement actions should be carried out in accordance with the law and the constitutional protections afforded to every individual. This portal is one of many important initiatives aimed at ensuring that ICE agents operating in our state are following the law. It is also a welcome step in supporting immigrant communities that contribute greatly to the strength, culture, and economic vitality of Massachusetts.”

Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Executive Director, Jane Doe Inc.:

“As Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts coalition against sexual assault and domestic violence, we understand that immigrant rights are intertwined with safety and justice for all survivors. We support efforts to document harms inflicted by ICE. Violence and abuse thrives in silence and secrecy.”   

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