Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 14, 2026 Malden Legislators and Mass. Legislature approve PROTECT Act to defend residents from federal immigration overreach Special to The Advocate S tate Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Steven Ultrino joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass and then enact sweeping legislation to protect residents from overreach by federal immigration authorities in Massachusetts and to ensure that local and state law enforcement are not involved in federal immigration enforcement. An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment (The PROTECT Act) establishes some of the strongest protections in the nation for residents who have immigrated to their communities. On August 5, 2026, Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law as Chapter 163 of the Acts of 2026. This law strengthens due process State Senator Jason Lewis State Representative Paul Donato protections and limits civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, public school grounds, hospitals and other sensitive locations. It also expands protections for victims of crime and increases transparency, accountability and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement relative to civil immigration enforcement. Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Aluminum Aluminum Everett Everett Supplies Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Vinyl Siding Decks • •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Free Estimates • • Replacement Windows • Carpentry Work • Roong • Fully Insured• Fully Insured Fully Insured Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com • Replacement Windows •Roong Free Estimates Fully Licensed • Roong 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! Everett Aluminum Supplies Representative Ultrino said, “This legislation is an important step in protecting our communities and making sure due process in Massachusetts continues to be a cornerstone of our practices and beliefs.” “Our country is led by a president who demonizes immigrants and encourages cruelty against them, but the Massachusetts Legislature is committed to standing up for our immigrant communities,” said Senator Lewis. “I am extremely proud to be an immigrant to this country. Immigrants from all over the world have long made Massachusetts and the United States stronger by contributing in so many ways to our economy, culture, arts, and science. Not only do the Trump administration’s misguided and inhumane immigration policies inflict terrible pain and suffering on families who do not deserve to be treated this way, they also damage our economy and our nation’s future prospects for growth, innovaState Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian tion, and global leadership.” “I am very proud of the work of my colleagues to pass these new guidelines,” said Representative Donato. “This legislation sets new standards and helps to strengthen trust between state agencies and our communities.” “Today, we are witnessing on the federal level shameless violations of constitutional rights and the dehumanization of our family members, neighbors, classmates, and coworkers with an intent to instigate division and hatred,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian. “We are a country of immigrants, founded on the rule of law and the right to due process. With the PROTECT Act, we reject the cruelty of the Trump administration and affirm our values in the Commonwealth. Families and immigrants should be safe in our public schools, childcare facilities, healthcare locations, and courthouses, and our local and state resources State Representative Steven Ultrino should not be used to advance a reckless campaign of chaos targeting residents who are contributing to our economy and our communities while posing no threat to public safety.” Highlights of Chapter 163: • Protecting residents from discrimination by barring local and state police from asking about a person’s immigration status or stopping them because of it — absent a connection to a specific criminal matter • Shielding sensitive community spaces by prohibiting civil immigration arrests without a judicial warrant at schools, childcare centers, medical facilities and courthouses • Strengthening trust in local law enforcement by prohibiting law enforcement from using state or local resources for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforceACT | SEE PAGE 11 Aluminum Summer is Here!
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