Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley are leading a coordinated effort by state, federal, and municipal leaders to educate residents about their legal rights during encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amid growing concern over aggressive enforcement tactics nationwide.
In a video message shared on social media, Campbell stressed that Massachusetts residents are “not defenseless,” urging communities—particularly immigrant families—to learn, memorize, and share their rights when confronted by ICE agents.
The public service message features a united front of Democratic leaders, including Governor Maura Healey, Senator Ed Markey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation—Reps. Pressley, Katherine Clark, Jim McGovern, and Lori Trahan—who appear sequentially to outline key legal protections.
Campbell, the state’s top law enforcement official, spoke about the message as both a legal reminder and a moral stance, condemning what officials described as “cruel and inhumane tactics” that have disrupted families and traumatized communities.
Rep. Pressley, a longtime advocate for immigrant rights, reinforced the message that residents have constitutional protections regardless of immigration status.
She and her colleagues stressed that ICE agents generally cannot enter private homes, workplaces, or classrooms without consent or a valid judicial warrant, and that individuals have the right to remain silent and to refuse to sign documents they do not understand.
Rep. Lori Trahan, speaking directly to the emotional toll of immigration enforcement, said ICE actions across the country have “wreaked havoc,” while Rep. McGovern and Rep. Clark underscored Congress’s role in pushing back against unlawful practices and advocating for humane immigration policies.
The video also advises bystanders that they may lawfully observe and record ICE activity from a distance, ask whether a person being detained has legal counsel, and help contact family members—while cautioning that obstructing law enforcement is unlawful and could put individuals at risk.
Mayor Wu and Governor Healey echoed the call for calm, peaceful interactions, stressing that community safety and legal awareness must go hand in hand.
Campbell concluded the message by urging residents to share the video widely, describing public awareness as a critical tool in protecting civil liberties.
“We have your back,” the leaders collectively assured viewers, signaling continued advocacy at the statehouse, city hall, and in Congress.
