Governor Maura Healey “filed legislation to keep ICE [the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] out of courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals and churches; make it unlawful for another state to deploy its National Guard in Massachusetts without the Governor’s permission; and allow parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detained or deported.”
“ ‘In Massachusetts and across the country, we continue to see unlawful and unconstitutional actions by ICE that are meant to intimidate and instill fear in our communities, including against United States citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights,’ said Governor Healey. ‘This puts people at risk and in harm’s way, and I find it necessary in the interest of public safety to take this action today.’ ”
— “Governor Healey Takes Action to Keep ICE out of Schools, Hospitals, Courthouses, and Places of Worship,” press release, January 29, 2026
“The National Association for Family Child Care is deeply concerned by a pattern of immigration enforcement actions taking place across Minnesota and the country that are harmful to children and destabilizing for families and communities. We are hearing directly from family child care educators across the state about the impact of these actions, including reports of child care settings being targeted and educators feeling fearful and overwhelmed as they work to continue providing safe, stable care for children and families.
“Family child care educators provide care in home settings where children depend on safety, predictability, and trust. When enforcement actions involve young children or abruptly disrupt families, the impact is immediate and far-reaching. Children carry fear, confusion, and distress into child care settings, and educators are left to support them through trauma while maintaining stability for all families in their care.”
— “NAFCC Urges Collective Action to Protect Children and Support Family Child Care Educators,” 2026
“We applaud Governor Maura Healey and her Administration for taking action today. Every child deserves safety, stability, and the opportunity to learn and grow. Schools and early learning programs must remain safe spaces where children can learn and play without fear. We know that early childhood educators are on the front lines. We continue to be inspired by this dedicated and resilient workforce and their commitment to problem solving, building partnerships, and providing high-quality learning experiences under incredible continuing circumstances. We are grateful to our leaders for showing empathy, compassion, and understanding what is at stake for people across Massachusetts.”
— Amy O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategies for Children, in the press release “Governor Healey Takes Action to Keep ICE out of Schools, Hospitals, Courthouses, and Places of Worship,” January 29, 2026
“Across the country, young children are being harmed by immigration enforcement actions. They are being detained in federal custody. They are witnessing armed agents conduct raids at their schools, childcares, and homes. They are watching their parents taken away without warning. They are being left behind when caregivers are detained and deported.”
“Nationally, more than 3,800 children—including infants—have been booked into immigration detention within the last year, with more than 100 children documented as stranded without parents due to enforcement actions, although the true number is almost certainly higher.”
“The science of early childhood development is unambiguous: early experiences shape children’s brains, health, and futures. Toxic stress—the prolonged activation of stress response systems in the absence of protective relationships—disrupts brain architecture, impairs learning, and increases lifelong chronic disease risk. Sudden separation from a primary caregiver is one of the most significant sources of toxic stress a young child can experience.”
“We call on federal, state, and local officials to implement immediate protections for children.”
— “Every Child Deserves Safety: A Statement from NAEYC,” 2026
“Like you, we are heartbroken and outraged at the cruelty and lawlessness by federal officials in Minnesota as well as other states across the country (including our own) where federal agents are stoking fear through race-based profiling, detentions, and brutal attacks on immigrants and citizens including children.
“We know immigrants make our society and our economy stronger. Although it has pained us this past year to leverage the economic argument—mass deportation would result in a loss of $41 million/year in state and local tax revenues—we did it because we thought common sense would speak to our better angels.
“Instead, pervasive division and hurtful othering have become normalized and in some instances rewarded. Friends are disappearing, Constitutional rights are being trampled, we are not safer…. This is what people are protesting. They have the courage to act, and they’re demonstrating that courage.”
“We can fight back through a willingness to center love for people in our words and actions, a restoration of respectful dialogue and disagreement, and tax reform that’s fair and resources an economy that works for everyone not just the lucky and privileged few. But the time to act is NOW.”
“Our children and grandchildren will ask about our role in this moment.”
— Connecticut Voices for Children, 2026
“This isn’t theoretical. Policy decisions unfolding right now directly shape whether children feel safe and secure in their daily lives. As Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants is set to end, tens of thousands of Ohio residents — many of them parents and young children — could face new uncertainty. In moments like these, we will be watching closely to ensure that state and federal actions account for children’s safety, stability, and well-being.
“As we move through 2026, we are asking three simple questions:
- Are leaders making decisions with young children and working families at the center — not as an afterthought?
- Are state and federal policies working together to create the stability families can count on?
- Are families and professionals equipped with the tools and voice they need to engage decision-makers and hold systems accountable?
“Our role is to lead with clarity, elevate what’s working, challenge what isn’t, and keep the experiences of young children at the center of every decision that affects them. Progress isn’t always loud. More often, it looks like steady leadership, strong partnerships, and the discipline to stay focused on what helps children thrive.
“Groundwork Ohio remains committed to ensuring that babies and young children are not harmed by circumstances beyond their control.”
— “Through the Eyes of a Child: What Our Youngest Children Need Right Now,” by Lynanne Gutierrez, President & CEO of Groundwork Ohio, January 2026