Remarks of Senate President Karen E. Spilka Regarding New Immigrant Protection Policies
As Prepared for Delivery, January 29, 2025
Good afternoon. I want to begin by thanking Governor Healey for bringing us together today.
What we have witnessed on the streets of Minnesota, Maine, and other parts of our country in recent weeks has been enraging.
Masked individuals are ripping apart families with no warrant and no due process. Shooting and killing a mother and an ICY nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs—American citizens murdered in broad daylight on American streets.
One victim was simply driving. The other was exercising his constitutional right to protest his government. These actions are not about legitimate public safety. They were acts of intimidation—carried out by individuals who have been empowered to enter communities with the sole purpose of inflaming fear and sowing division.
In April, I said on the Senate floor that these actions echoed those my grandfather experienced in Poland more than a century ago—and experienced by others in Europe in the lead up to World War II. Since April, the Senate has acted. We funded immigrant legal defense, banned the impersonation of federal officers, passed a comprehensive data privacy bill to protect our residents from surveillance, and taken additional steps to help our communities.
We in the Senate have spent endless hours speaking with constituents, advocates, and experts so we can identify and prioritize proposals that will truly protect people here. We have also been collaborating with this administration, our Attorney General, and our colleagues in the House.
I want to applaud them: Chair Friedman and our colleagues on the Steering and Policy Committee who are leading the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative: Senators Comerford, Creem, Brownsberger, and Payano.
Our Judiciary Chair Senator Edwards, Public Safety Chair Cronin, Assistant Senate Majority Leader DiDomenico, as well as the tireless efforts of Senators Gomez, Payano, Miranda, and Edwards of the Black and Latino Caucus.
Earlier this week, we listened to the words of Magda Bader, a Holocaust survivor. The parallels between what her family experienced and what is happening to some of our families right now are chilling. Chilling.
Massachusetts must continue to act.
Massachusetts will continue to act.
Governor, I know we have had many conversations about this, and I want to go on the record that the Massachusetts Senate stands firmly with you in this effort. When this legislation reaches the Senate, and hopefully that is soon, we will engage thoughtfully with the details and consider additional protections developed through the hard work of our Senators — measures that we feel are necessary to defend the safety, dignity, and rights of our residents.
But let me be clear: the Senate will do everything in its power to return these proposals to your desk for your signature – soon.
Massachusetts is the birthplace of American democracy. Right now, that democracy feels fragile. We must not let it die on our watch. We will continue to meet this moment—and we will protect our residents, defend our values, and continue to lead. Thank you.
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