Healey Restricts ICE Access to Massachusetts Schools and Hospitals Amid Federal Lawsuit

Maura Healey issued statewide guidance on May 28, 2026, directing Massachusetts schools, hospitals, child care centers, and places of worship to deny U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entry to nonpublic areas unless they present a judicial warrant signed by a judge. The guidance, rooted in a January executive order, clarifies that administrative warrants — which ICE typically carries — do not authorize entry into those spaces. Staff are instructed to remain calm, avoid physical interference, and protect private information. Healey said the measures ensure residents can access essential services without fear of intimidation. Secretary of Education Steve Zrike backed the guidance, citing the negative impact of ICE tactics on student learning. Attorney General Andrea Campbell collaborated with Healey to launch an online ICE Misconduct Portal for reporting violations. The announcement came one day after the U.S. Department of Justice sued Massachusetts and three other states for refusing to provide federal agents with confidential license plates through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate called the policy both dangerous and unlawful. Healey defended the refusal, arguing that undercover plates would let agents operate in secret. She also sharply criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's proposal to restrict international flights into sanctuary cities, calling the idea dumb and warning of economic damage to Logan Airport. The escalating disputes mark a broader breakdown between Massachusetts and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.