BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), together with the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM), today filed an amicus brief on behalf of more than a dozen organizations in federal court to express support for the Boston Trust Act, which is currently facing a legal challenge from the Trump administration. In September, the Justice Department filed suit against the City of Boston over the law, which prohibits local police from holding a person on a federal detainer request absent an active criminal warrant. The amicus brief includes testimonials about the benefits of the Trust Act and supports the City’s motion to dismiss.
Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of MIRA, and Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, issued the following statement regarding the filing.
“Boston’s Trust Act has helped to make Boston one of the safest cities in America by fostering trust and respect between our thriving immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Public safety requires public trust. Studies show that laws like the Trust Act enhance public safety by encouraging people to call 9-1-1 in an emergency, to talk with police during investigations, and to seek help from their city officials. Our amicus brief documents the first-hand experiences of people in Boston who feel safer attending school, going to the doctor, and engaging in lawful work because of the Trust Act. The Trump administration is trying to undermine all of this in the service of a cruel and cynical political agenda. We urge the court to dismiss this baseless lawsuit.”
Read the proposed amicus brief here.
Media Contacts:
MIRA: Ellen Fleming | efleming@melwoodglobal.com
ACLUM: Mark Sheridan | msheridan@aclum.org