Draft Immigrant Welcoming Policy

Recognizing the Values and Diversity of Our Community Policy

In order to ensure the Town of Natick complies with federal and state laws regarding immigration, which is under the jurisdiction of federal law; and to reiterate the fact that local law enforcement agencies have no jurisdiction to enforce federal law; and to reiterate that Natick is welcoming to all diverse individuals who chose live within our community; and to ensure that all individuals feel valued and a sense of belonging.

The Select Board (the “Board”) of the Town of Natick (“Town”), pursuant to its authority as the executive body of the Town, hereby adopts the following Policy:

1. Under 8 U.S.C. §1373 and §1644 and Commonwealth v. Lunn, 477 Mass 517 (2017), state and federal law prohibits town officials from imposing limits on maintaining, exchanging, sending, or receiving information regarding citizenship and immigration status with any federal, state, or local government entity.

2. No Town policy, procedure or regulation shall violate federal laws or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

3. No employee of the Town shall inquire about or collect any information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any individual unless Federal Laws or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts require municipal employees to do so.

4. No employee of the Town shall detain a person based on the belief that the person is not present legally in the United States or that the person has committed an immigration violation.

5. No employee of the Town shall perform the functions of an immigration officer, nor shall the Town use Town funds, resources, facilities, property, equipment or personnel to directly assist in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws.

Notwithstanding the prior sentence, nothing in this policy shall prevent an officer, employee or department of the Town from lawfully discharging duties in compliance with and in response to a lawfully issued judicial warrant, judicial subpoena, or judicial detainer.