Statement from State Representative Cabral
“Last week, more than 30 of our neighbors across the South Coast were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Regardless of immigration status, every resident deserves due process, transparency, and basic human dignity. I respect the rule of law, and immigration enforcement should be carried out in a manner that upholds those principles.
When masked federal agents operate in our neighborhoods without coordinating with local law enforcement or providing basic information, they create fear, put residents and law enforcement officers at risk, and undermine the trust that public safety depends upon.
New Bedford has always been a city of immigrants. So many of our families, mine included, know what it means to arrive in a new place with very little and find a sense of belonging in a community we are proud to call home.
Enforcing immigration law does not mean abandoning our commitment to accountability, transparency, or due process. What happened last week did not make our community safer. It separated families who have worked hard, contributed to our local economy, and built their lives here. Children were left waiting at school for parents who never came home, while businesses along our waterfront were left without workers they depend on.
Our community deserves better, and so does our country.
I am grateful to the local advocates and organizations who have stepped up to support our neighbors, including the Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (CCT), the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (CEDC), and the Immigrants’ Assistance Center (IAC). I am equally grateful to the countless neighbors who have opened their doors and offered food, rent assistance, legal support, and other essential resources to affected families.
To every family hurting right now: please know that you are not alone. Our community sees you, stands with you, and will continue to be there for you through this difficult time.”
State Representative Tony Cabral
