An Act relative to sanctuary cities and towns

This bill prohibits cities and towns in Massachusetts from adopting policies that prevent their employees from checking the immigration status of individuals who are lawfully detained or arrested. It requires local governments to cooperate with federal immigration officers by allowing them to enter municipal buildings and share relevant information. If a municipality fails to comply with these requirements, the state attorney general, district attorney, or police chief can sue to force compliance. Upon a court finding of noncompliance, the state will reduce the amount of unrestricted general government aid the noncompliant city or town receives in the following year, with penalty amounts varying based on population size.