A SENATE LEGISLATIVE oversight committee says the Bristol County sheriff’s office violated state law and its own policies and procedures when it denied Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz access to an immigration detention center it operates in Dartmouth. The Boston senator showed up at the facility on May 2, the day after a melee involving immigration detainees, […]
ICE
Healey: Civil rights of ICE detainees violated
ATTORNEY GENERAL Maura Healey issued a report on Tuesday concluding that the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office violated the civil rights of immigrant detainees on May 1 when it engaged in an “unnecessary use of force” that left three of the detainees hospitalized and several others in solitary confinement when they should have received medical treatment. […]
ICE arrests man in East Boston park
This story has been updated. FOUR AGENTS with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a man in an East Boston park on Tuesday morning. A video from a passerby shows ICE agents searching the man’s wallet, frisking him, and then taking him into custody. According to the passerby, one of the agents said “ICE had a warrant for his [the […]
ICE questions, then releases, undocumented Lynn resident
AN UNDOCUMENTED Lynn resident reported voluntarily to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Friday and, to the surprise of his attorney, was allowed to leave. “I am so pleased. I’m giving thanks to God and all the people who have helped me,” said Rogelio Gonzalez in a Spanish-language phone interview just minutes after his release. […]
Groups seek to add immigrant driver’s license authorization to police bill
AS THE HOUSE GATHERS testimony on a policing reform bill passed earlier this week by the Senate, S.2820, some immigrant and worker groups are calling for the legislation to add language to grant driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Service Employees International Union 32BJ, Brazilian Workers Center, and Pioneer Valley Workers Center plan to rally today in front […]
Groups seek to add immigrant driver’s license authorization to police bill
As the House gathers testimony on a policing reform bill passed earlier this week by the Senate, S.2820, some immigrant and worker groups are calling for the legislation to add language to grant driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Service Employees International Union 32BJ, Brazilian Workers Center, and Pioneer Valley Workers Center plan to rally today in […]
In hard-hit Chelsea, COVID-19 fight a collaborative effort
Fourth in a series on municipal leaders across Massachusetts and how they’re contending with the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are previous stories on Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, and Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone. LAST SATURDAY MORNING, the day after he and a group of Chelsea leaders and top hospital officials wrote to Gov. […]
Immigrant detainees on hunger strike in RI
OVER 60 IMMIGRANT detainees at a federal detention center in Rhode Island are on their fourth day of a hunger strike, demanding to be released due to concerns over the coronavirus spread. According to recorded conversations between two male detainees at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, Rhode Island, and their attorneys, the hunger […]
Judge starts releasing ICE detainees during coronavirus spread concerns
A FEDERAL JUDGE on Friday ordered the release of three immigrant detainees being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Bristol County House of Correction to reduce the potential for the spread of COVID-19. US District Court Judge William Young also said the three detainees, who have no prior criminal arrests or pending charges, would be placed under house arrest. […]
Judge asks for list of ICE detainees for potential release
A FEDERAL JUDGE stopped short of ordering the release of federal immigration detainees being held in the Bristol County House of Correction, but he urged officials not to send new detainees there in light of concerns about transmission of the novel coronavirus in correctional facilities. US District Court Judge William Young, in a hearing conducted […]