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S 1666

Relates to accessing records under the freedom of information law

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham

The bill would require Massachusetts to cooperate with federal immigration authorities to report and coordinate the immediate detainment of nonresident migrants or asylum seekers c

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 1666

Summary — S.1666 (2025): "An Act promoting intergovernmental cooperation on criminal enforcement"

Overview / Purpose

S.1666 would require the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to cooperate with federal immigration and law enforcement agencies to report and coordinate the immediate detainment of nonresident migrants or asylum seekers in Massachusetts who have been formally charged with or convicted of certain serious crimes. The bill adds a new Section 30B to Chapter 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws titled “Cooperation with Federal Agencies on Criminal Matters.”

Note: The record supplied to this summary includes an inconsistent bill title ("Relates to accessing records under the freedom of information law") that does not match the bill text. This summary follows the bill text, which concerns intergovernmental criminal-enforcement cooperation.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 30B to Chapter 23B (Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities).
  • Requires the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to:
    • Cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies, explicitly naming U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
    • Report and coordinate the immediate detainment of any nonresident migrant or asylum seeker in the Commonwealth who has been formally charged with or convicted of a “serious crime.”
  • Defines “serious crime” by example (non-exhaustive list): rape, murder, drug trafficking, and felony theft, and further ties definitions to state and federal law.

Who would be affected

  • Nonresident migrants and asylum seekers in Massachusetts who are charged with or convicted of qualifying crimes.
  • Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (new reporting/cooperation duties).
  • Federal agencies named (USCIS, ICE) and potentially other federal law enforcement partners.
  • State and local agencies that interface with the Executive Office, housing programs, shelters, and courts.
  • Community stakeholders (immigrant advocacy groups, housing providers, legal services).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Operational: may require new policies, data-sharing procedures, staff training, and resource allocation within the Executive Office and partner agencies.
  • Public-safety vs. trust: could affect immigrant communities’ willingness to access housing or report crimes; enforcement coordination may influence community trust in state programs.
  • Legal and constitutional considerations: coordination with federal immigration enforcement can raise questions about state-federal roles, civil rights, privacy, and due process—potentially leading to litigation or the need for formal memoranda of understanding.
  • Service delivery: housing and shelter providers may face new reporting expectations or liability concerns.

Legislative status and timeline (as recorded)

  • Filed: Senate Docket No. 1182 (filed 01/15/2025).
  • Introduced in Senate / Read twice and referred to Committee on Finance: 05/07/2025.
  • Referred to Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security: 02/27/2025 (record shows “House concurred” same date).
  • Referred to Investigations and Government Operations: 01/13/2025 (listed twice in the record).
  • Hearing scheduled: 11/25/2025, 11:30 AM–5:00 PM, Gardner Auditorium.

(Record contains date/order inconsistencies — multiple committee referrals and actions listed across January–November 2025.)

Sponsors and related measures

  • Sponsors listed in the record include Kelly A. Dooner and Steven George Xiarhos (state sponsors). The supplied sponsor list also includes several federal legislators — this appears inconsistent with a Massachusetts state bill record.
  • Related bills listed: HR 5345 (companion), SD 1182 (replaces), S 6816, S 6608, S 4280, S 1726 (prior sessions), and A 7796 (companion).

Bottom line

S.1666 directs the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to coordinate with federal immigration enforcement to report and facilitate immediate detainment of nonresident migrants/asylum seekers charged with or convicted of specified serious crimes. The measure would change state-federal information- and enforcement-sharing practices and could have operational, legal, and community-trust consequences. The legislative record includes inconsistent metadata (titles, sponsors, and dates), so users should consult the official Massachusetts legislative website or bill text for authoritative details.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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