Nearly 200 religious leaders congregated at the State House on Friday to protest immigration enforcement actions in Massachusetts and to address the violence and unrest federal agents have allegedly brought to Minneapolis. Organized by the Massachusetts Communities Action Network, these faith leaders gathered in solidarity with immigrant communities, delivering a letter urging a meeting with Governor Maura Healey.
The letter emphasized recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, including the detention of a five-year-old boy, which the leaders claim “threaten not only the lives and well-being of individuals and families but also the foundational rights of all people to feel safe in their homes, workplaces, and public spaces.”
Rabbi David Jaffe, co-president of the Brockton Interfaith Community, expressed faith in Governor Healey as the appropriate person to advocate for protections within the state. He highlighted her previous commitment to civil rights, recalling her public opposition to the first Trump administration’s actions affecting Muslims and other vulnerable groups during her tenure as Massachusetts attorney general.
This protest coincided with Healey’s recent critique of ICE in her State of the Commonwealth address, where she declared, “enough is enough.” However, critics noted that while her remarks were pointed, they fell short of proposing a concrete action plan. Jaffe and his fellow leaders are pressing for an executive order to prevent ICE from utilizing state properties, such as courthouses, for arrests.
“We want to see an executive order that creates a commission within her administration to ensure that no unconstitutional actions are taken against protected classes in Massachusetts. Additionally, we want a truth commission established to hold accountable anyone who violates people’s rights in the state through collaboration with ICE,” Jaffe stated.
The group has expressed a desire to meet with Governor Healey within the next three weeks to further discuss their concerns. Rev. Katie Omberg, an area conference minister with the United Church of Christ for Metro Boston and Northeast Massachusetts, emphasized the need for courage among clergy and churches to advocate for the value of all human life, stating, “I’m here to encourage our clergy and churches to be bold, to take the risks that need to be taken in order to spread the love and justice of Jesus.”
This gathering reflects a growing movement among religious leaders advocating for immigrant rights and an end to aggressive enforcement measures, highlighting their commitment to justice and compassion in their communities.