[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6515914,"mediaKeyId","3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf","parentId",3085880,"title","Panelists outline state bills, \"know-your-rights\" outreach and voter engagement as immediate responses","audioSeconds",823,"startMs",1777000,"endMs",2600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf&start=1777&end=2600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf/thumbnail_1777000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6515914/Panelists-outline-state-bills-know-your-rights-outreach-and-voter-engagement-as-immediate-responses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515914-2901d7327e199459fcb3e6565f146e58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950097&Signature=hM~J3xMKJdbBx~70Kn1uIcdDBPlVhunepcYcsuIf2~7nNQ-g2udcUcnHPPGtC~Q9g9txm5DuGUDX7LLHSocYbp0Vrjqcn8YJx-ww9JwsW3UMxQ9THFZyKXwcyaUHFZ2FVWNRNT2Cju365Abg1vJDNv~qQoiPMYY9MjqeKQR24f7fP-YJ26VUDwZGvjEY5pHv6g-thnpbE2h146nCXLsWpxQfxNLq2XOhiGcqKPq-wSaCX2aOXlbmc1bIZvHtPQnqwPxDnppswMcoVYtheYgOtBCK1BFG3C0AlBHv4fSnVXN~1FhwTRhbXT3M02Oc4Wg46SWG-vRaC-zqXFTP4aW5cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newton City, MA","date","2025-04-22T02:41:55Z","article","Panelists at the League of Women Voters forum highlighted specific state bills, community education and electoral engagement as immediate steps citizens can take to support immigrants and safeguard democratic processes.

Marlena O'Brien, the moderator, listed Massachusetts coalition priorities that the League and MIRA back: the Safe Communities Act, the Dignity Not Deportation Act, the Immigrant Legal Defense Act, a language-access bill, and protections for agricultural workers. Sarang Sekhavat said MIRA’s most effective current work includes \"know your rights\" campaigns and training for community members who lobby legislators.

Susan Martin urged supporting organizations that are litigating executive actions and pressing state officials in \"welcoming\" jurisdictions to maintain protections. \"The only way right now we have of stopping any of this is through the courts,\" she said, recommending financial support for litigants and advocacy groups.

Speakers recommended civic steps: register to vote and participate in local and state elections; attend lobby days and town halls; support community-led \"know-your-rights\" training; and contact legislators to press for oversight and protective laws. Sarang urged proactive narrative-setting: \"Start the news... don't just be responding to what other people say.\" Gallagher and others encouraged showing up at protests and participating in local organizations.

No formal endorsements beyond the organizations and bills mentioned were recorded on the program; speakers urged volunteers and donations to groups engaged in litigation, outreach and legislative advocacy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","League of Women Voters - What Democracy Means in Everyday Life: Immigration","oneSentenceSummary","Panelists encouraged supporting state legislation such as the Safe Communities Act and local \"know-your-rights\" training, joining coalitions, and voting; they recommended funding and legal support for organizations suing over federal actions.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6515921,"Panelists: courts, separation of powers and expedited removal are central to immigration disputes",1098,1919000,3017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf&start=1919&end=3017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf/thumbnail_1919000.jpg","/articles/6515921/Panelists-courts-separation-of-powers-and-expedited-removal-are-central-to-immigration-disputes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515921-32f13993eaa87d7e2b0d682e2faa01e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950097&Signature=F~ydXfaMTl3rZt8fLo8LBLZAwRN3YPtM7Wd59CpqQC9yIZNPy4vxc4-QdUhjTHIBqFyRnhDk6GIRj~mipqKM2Zk~0yl6lAiDasa0Kg51NWUVCtL4eHTBaKwSBOfxbSvprBjSKHLVD29tc5dnjKhAtlGobPfQLS40Z4-9u~MvGzk5czB6dbttZ6h1UmTC7CKEnHWW9BARP4qe21GyY3dAFgK-0aGoSOKOoBamYi2reUo7jj3zMhmUI-Bt~Ecjm4nfAdhSPkiSkTaBbSj10RrF4Frp1criyBsZGZebFnB9dbt3SvMhBgxCC3rOvV569N9lWUn34JMP8gFIEh0Y2-Iydw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a League of Women Voters of Massachusetts forum, scholars and advocates focused on how executive enforcement tools, court challenges and longstanding constitutional protections are shaping immigration policy.

Susan Martin, Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita at Georgetown, said measures that curtail due process for immigrants risk broader erosion of democratic protections. She cited historical examples and called the current use of the term \"enemy aliens\" and related practices \"disturbing.\" Martin argued that the judiciary remains the primary avenue to halt actions she characterized as overreach: \"The only way right now we have of stopping any of this is through the courts.\"

Sarang Sekhavat warned that expanded expedited removal can allow deportations without hearings for people present up to two years, creating acute fear in immigrant communities. \"They have expanded something called expedited removal, which allows them to deport people without due process,\" Sekhavat said. He also raised concern that the executive branch may not consistently honor court orders.

Panelists discussed the Alien Enemies Act as an example of executive authority referenced by officials; Susan Martin and others said invocation of such authorities reduces transparency because agencies assert crisis justifications for withholding information. Martin and Sekhavat urged civic support for organizations litigating executive actions and for citizens to press Congress to reassert its constitutional role on immigration policy.

Speakers also raised birthright citizenship and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as legal issues to watch. Martin called efforts to erode birthright citizenship \"fundamental to our democracy\" and urged protection of the Fourteenth Amendment provision that grants citizenship to those born in the United States.

The forum included no formal legal filings or legislative votes; panelists recommended civic engagement, litigation support and legislative oversight as responses.","Speakers said recent executive actions — including expanded expedited removal and references to the Alien Enemies Act — raise separation-of-powers concerns and leave courts as the principal check on federal enforcement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6515923,"Panel warns limited federal data and enforcement fears are harming public health",372,1378000,1750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf&start=1378&end=1750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf/thumbnail_1378000.jpg","/articles/6515923/Panel-warns-limited-federal-data-and-enforcement-fears-are-harming-public-health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515923-2b741b5160dac2c7684dcd27f5e1e5a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950097&Signature=O43ddriKPmSdSb8NUR4cZBcrRDBii~7xp6z61MFuWHGz0R-mNNHOxv53grhPytNWSZ43fGcRXfwBlJYePe-UoYmFvBMqQyb5GNT3GSu835yO5egh~J8bn0mSYQ7JJ5hjPi3arz9Q8Eg8PrHtkyCF264XvhrDWe27oLoX3y6LPnevLe3Hd~Ap5fpV4oXQUJ6Bi9GNb5fNTdxBf39NHnK4q4RLGtoMvEOzaLeSMCEhVv1U3wAvkb~-wzEok4CpqUeCPVVEkdbmF69uqTUFohbTMcX-IkEzgf0pbH2o8upmQ6UxvLX66h1SkVhOd9-LoaF~WHnAiZyoD13Ph9MkRLTw8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Panelists at the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts forum said shrinking transparency from federal immigration agencies and fear of enforcement are undermining public-health outreach and surveillance.

Susan Martin, Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita at Georgetown, said researchers and journalists are encountering new barriers to data on ICE, CBP, USCIS and related programs. \"Without good data you can't make good policy,\" Sarang Sekhavat added, calling current federal behavior \"post-policy administration\" and arguing agencies are prioritizing public relations over evidence.

Donna Gallagher described patients who have missed critical cancer and HIV treatment appointments out of fear of exposure after ICE activity. \"It's people that were religious about coming every single time they had an appointment, and then all of a sudden, they call and say, I'm not feeling well...they do that 3 or 4 times in a row,\" she said, noting the stakes are life-threatening for seriously ill patients.

Panelists linked the enforcement environment to risks for communicable-disease control. Gallagher noted concerns about underreported measles cases among undocumented people who avoid care and said, \"a year of people hiding from their healthcare will probably result in another year of pretty much disastrous needs.\" Martin and Sekhavat said lack of data — and websites or datasets that have been removed or restricted — hampers identification of pockets with low vaccination or screening rates.

Speakers urged support for organizations producing legal challenges and encouraged civic action to protect data access and public-health services. They did not announce new research or public-health policy changes at the event.

","Panelists said reduced transparency from federal immigration agencies, combined with enforcement activity, is causing immigrants to avoid care and threatening public-health surveillance and vaccination efforts.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6515924,"Panelists urge clearer hospital and school policies as ICE enforcement rises",557,710000,1267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf&start=710&end=1267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3085880-d02acabfadb28858216c5e70fb0f3acf/thumbnail_710000.jpg","/articles/6515924/Panelists-urge-clearer-hospital-and-school-policies-as-ICE-enforcement-rises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515924-5f1751999cf39586d4bfafaf42a77b88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950097&Signature=nmjn44XzY9WLspM93p6OT7ikZ7QFNmGQQNaLa5VU20KBRWEAFfHX629RDExixxn7Hd2Xbunj1U9PcEmYGv6OzyS93FV2jDs25-w9pxG8OTQJrqkN-gOVzeaV4TBrgGCn8HEXFClg1ayxyZFeigPWNcZYsIGgoft4oKSc2sZd7Llhl5GJd98Pn~0ypGCeNXck4FZ0mw9cR4fV6l6vtadmMTL2TT8xF8g-bBqBHB~5KPj2j7JJtOXouUU~kiK2SPo82RWPquIfp1o1nULxZ77a6on-t-khAWjkOvbvQqZGb34nZ0ZsWeUOR9-DTbyzIq7DjF2Xnzbj7zWDGy7XC3LN2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Moderators and panelists at a League of Women Voters of Massachusetts forum said growing ICE enforcement in hospitals and schools has left staff and patients unprepared and fearful. The March 27 panel at NEWtv in Newton featured Donna Gallagher, a nurse practitioner and retired assistant professor; Sarang Sekhavat, chief of staff at MIRA (the Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition); and Susan Martin, Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita of International Migration at Georgetown University.

Gallagher recounted witnessing ICE agents handcuff and remove a patient from an emergency room and said the event prompted her hospital to ask what staff should do if enforcement agents enter a clinical setting. \"We were clearly unprepared when this happened the first time,\" Gallagher said. She described staff anxiety stemming from mixed-status families and fear that colleagues or family members could be detained after shifts.

Panelists said that practical steps institutions can adopt include a designated, trained point person to handle law-enforcement requests; written maps that distinguish public from private facility spaces; and clear guidance about when officials must present a warrant. \"Not every document that ICE provides is one that you have to act on,\" Martin said, urging hospitals and schools to refuse entries that lack proper judicial authorization.

Sarang Sekhavat highlighted the importance of group-based accompaniment for immigrants who wish to engage with legislators or visit public facilities, saying people feel safer acting in groups rather than alone. He and Gallagher both recommended \"know your rights\" outreach so staff understand Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections and limits on administrative documents that resemble warrants.

The panel also discussed psychological and developmental impacts on children who witness an enforcement action. Gallagher said the memory of a patient being removed from a clinical setting \"can only imagine what it would do to a classroom full of children to witness somebody be dragged out.\"

Panelists did not propose or record any formal institutional policy changes during the forum. Instead, they emphasized institutional preparedness — written procedures, designated contacts, staff training, and coordination with legal advocates — as immediate steps facilities can take to reduce confusion and protect patients, students and staff.

Panel excerpts and practical recommendations reflected lived experience and legal guidance discussed on the program; they did not announce new regulations or legal rulings.

","Health-care and education workers described on-the-ground confusion and fear after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions at facilities, urging single-point policies, staff training on rights, and clearer limits on ICE authority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panelists outline state bills, "know-your-rights" outreach and voter engagement as immediate responses

Panelists: courts, separation of powers and expedited removal are central to immigration disputes

Panel warns limited federal data and enforcement fears are harming public health

Panelists urge clearer hospital and school policies as ICE enforcement rises