On September 8, 2026, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey released guidance implementing the PROTECT Act. The law took effect on August 5, 2026, and limits federal civil immigration enforcement on state property, in healthcare facilities, and in the workplace.

Quick Hits

• Massachusetts’s PROTECT Act, effective August 5, 2026, requires employers that receive an I-9 notice of inspection from DHS/ICE to deliver written notice in each affected employee’s primary language within forty-eight hours of receipt.
• Employers in Massachusetts may want to prepare now by assigning responsibility for the notice process, pre-translating notice templates, mapping individual distribution methods for all employees, and proactively auditing I-9 files.
• Beyond the I-9 notice requirement, the PROTECT Act restricts state and local law enforcement participation in civil immigration enforcement, limits civil arrests on certain state property, and requires many healthcare providers to adopt a written enforcement interaction policy by October 4, 2026.

The New Rule

When an employer receives a notice of inspection (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for I-9 forms or other employment eligibility records, Massachusetts law now requires that employers take the following actions:

• 48-hour deadline: Written notice must be sent to employees within forty-eight hours of receiving the NOI.
• Individual delivery: Each affected employee must receive...

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