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Lawmakers, prosecutors and municipal leaders urge report on Safe Communities Act at public hearing
Summary
The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard broad support for the Safe Communities Act (H.2580 / S.1681) on Jan. 20, 2026; speakers — including state senators, district attorneys, police officials and municipal leaders — said the bill would limit local involvement in civil immigration enforcement and rebuild trust with immigrant communities.
State and local officials, prosecutors, police leaders and dozens of community witnesses packed a Jan. 20 hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to press the Legislature to advance the Safe Communities Act, filed as House Bill H.2580 and Senate Bill S.1681.
State Senator Jamie Eldridge, a lead filer, told the committee the bill would “prohibit the questioning of people on their immigration status,” bar police, courts and correctional facilities from informing Immigration and Customs Enforcement about an undocumented person in custody unless that person has a criminal conviction and is being sentenced, require notice that an arrested immigrant can obtain counsel for immigration matters, and ban 287(g) deputization agreements that give local officers federal immigration authority. “This is about restoring and maintaining trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities,” Eldridge said.
Pauline Wells, superintendent of operations for the Cambridge Police Department, said Cambridge already follows similar practices…
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