Massachusetts H2648: An Act empowering law enforcement to cooperate with the United States to transfer custody of convicted criminals

What the bill says

From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:

SECTION 1. Chapter 276 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 20R the following section:- Section 20S. (a) Any employee of the Commonwealth, or a public instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, who holds police powers or the powers of a sheriff or deputy sheriff, including but not limited to municipal police officers, court officers, and state troopers, and who has lawful custody of a person may, upon receipt of (1) a written request from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting detention of such person on the grounds that there is probable cause that such person is a removable alien and (2) an administrative warrant for arrest or warrant of removal/deportation, detain such person for a reasonable period of time after such person would otherwise be released from custody in order to transfer custody of such person to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provided that a supervisory officer of such employee’s agency has, in accordance with a policy promulgated in accordance with subsection (c), first determined that there are specific facts indicating that the person to be detained poses a threat to public safety; and further provided that such person be provided with a copy of such written request; and further provided that in no circumstances shall such detention exceed 12 hours unless an appropriate …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Bradley Jones (R) · primary sponsor
• Kimberly Ferguson (R, 1st Worcester)
• Paul Frost (R, 7th Worcester)
• Todd Smola (R, 1st Hampden)
• David DeCoste (R, 5th Plymouth)
• Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable)
• David Muradian (R)
• Marc Lombardo (R, 22nd Middlesex)
• Hannah Kane (R, 11th Worcester)
• John Marsi (R, 6th Worcester)
• Steven Howitt (R, 4th Bristol)
• Marcus Vaughn (R)

Latest actions

1. April 23, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5322 (under House Rule 27)
2. November 4, 2025: Hearing scheduled for 11/25/2025 from 11:30 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
3. February 27, 2025: Senate concurred
4. February 27, 2025: Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
5. : Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Common questions

What is H2648?

H2648 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act empowering law enforcement to cooperate with the United States to transfer custody of convicted criminals.

What is the status of H2648?

Failed as of April 23, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5322 (under House Rule 27) (April 23, 2026).

Who sponsored H2648?

Bradley Jones (R), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H2648?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2648