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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3744 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2009
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act supporting and honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawful detainments
(SHIELD Act).
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3744 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2009
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2009) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida relative to federal immigration detainers issued by the
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act supporting and honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawful detainments
(SHIELD Act).
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 20R the following section:-
3 Section 20S: Honoring Federal Immigration Detainers Issued by the United States
4Immigration and Customs Enforcement
5 Section 20S. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “law enforcement agency” shall
6include but not be limited to any state, municipal, college or university police department,
7sheriff’s department, correctional facility, prosecutorial office, court, probation office, or any
8other non-federal entity in the commonwealth charged with the enforcement of laws or the
9custody of detained persons. Upon receipt of a written request from the United States
10Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting detention of an individual on the grounds that
11there is probable cause that such person is a removable alien, law enforcement agencies shall 2 of 2
12comply with the terms of any detainer request received under any of the following
13circumstances:
14 (i) The individual has been convicted or charged with an aggravated felony offense as
15defined in 8 USC § 1101(a)(43), including but not limited to, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a
16minor, illicit drug trafficking, and illicit firearms trafficking.
17 (ii) The individual has been convicted or charged with a violent crime as defined in 18
18USC § 16.
19 (iii) The individual has been convicted or charged with a criminal street gang offense as
20defined in 18 USC § 521.
21 (iv) The individual has been convicted or charged with a terrorism offense as defined in
2218 USC Chapter 113B.
23 (b) Any law enforcement agency employee shall comply with a United States
24Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention request if said employee determines that the
25alien poses a threat to public safety, or other compelling argument supporting the alien’s
26detention.
27 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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