Lawrence, MA Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)

Adopted by Doc. 133/2015 and effective September 11, 2015, Lawrence's TRUST Ordinance sets out at Section 9.20.020 that it is not within the purview nor mandate of the city to enforce federal immigration law or seek the detention, transfer or deportation of city residents for civil immigration purposes, nor should city resources be expended toward that end, and that under no circumstances shall a person be contacted, detained, or arrested by city law enforcement personnel based on immigration status, whether known or unknown. Section 9.20.040 turns that policy into specific operating rules: absent a criminal warrant signed by a judge and based on probable cause, no city officer may arrest or detain someone solely on an ICE administrative warrant or immigration hold, extend anyone's custody for ICE, respond to an ICE notification request about a person's release date or address, or give ICE agents access to city facilities, records, or people in custody.

Anyone subject to an ICE hold, warrant, or notification request that city law enforcement does act on must be given a copy of the ICE paperwork under Section 9.20.040.D. Section 9.20.020.B also bars considering citizenship, immigration status, national origin, race, or ethnicity in bail eligibility, work-program eligibility, or decisions to stop or arrest someone. Complaints about violations go to the mayor under Section 9.20.050. Under Section 9.20.060, the police chief must file a report with the city clerk every other month, starting September 1, 2015, tallying ICE hold and warrant requests by reason given, the number of people detained under Section 9.20.040.D, transfers to ICE custody, and any federal reimbursement received, and the city clerk must put that report on the next city council meeting agenda.