Healey went on to say the PROTECT Act is the strongest law in the country to protect people from ICE and to protect public safety.
"We should all be proud of that," she said.
Lawmakers attached an emergency preamble to the bill, declaring it "an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety" and arranging for it to take effect as soon as Healey signs it.
The bill (H 5620) that cleared the House and Senate on split votes last Thursday would expand protections against warrantless civil immigration arrests to courthouses, public schools, child care centers and healthcare facilities. It bars new agreements allowing state and local officials to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions, preserves the Department of Correction's existing partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and codifies the Supreme Judicial Court's 2017 Lunn v. Commonwealth decision which held that there is "no authority for Massachusetts court officers to arrest and hold an individual solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer."
"We started this effort by grounding our work in the belief that all Massachusetts residents deserve equal protection under both the United States constitution and Massachusetts constitution regardless of where they were born or their color, creed, or immigration status," Sen. Cindy Friedman said Thursday before the Senate adopted the proposal. "And I would add that every single person in this Commonwealth, state, country, world deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Nobody is illegal."
Friedman said the bill was a response to ICE, an agency that she said "has become violent, frequently disregarding the law, and often seems to revel in sowing fear and division."
Healey said last week the bill was "top of mind" for her and she expressed hope it would reach her desk.
Ahead of the PROTECT Act signing Wednesday, Healey also responded to reports that ICE is seeking 250 parking spots in downtown Boston, saying it cannot be allowed at this time.
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