DARTMOUTH — Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson is working with state lawmakers to immediately file and pass legislation that will strengthen the partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement in their shared mission to enforce laws and keep citizens and legal residents safe.

Tuesday, Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to file a bill that aims to authorize all levels of law enforcement and court officers to cooperate fully with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"We're working on a draft of the bill right now and it will be filed on Tuesday," Sheriff Hodgson said Monday afternoon in a release. "We're going to protect the people. It will make the Commonwealth safer if we can get this bill passed by the legislature, which authorizes court officers and law enforcement officers to honor ICE detainers."

The proposed legislation comes in direct response to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision on Monday that ruled law enforcement should not hold illegal aliens based on civil detainer orders from ICE.

"The decision makes Massachusetts residents and visitors more vulnerable to become victims of crime," Sheriff Hodgson said about Monday's ruling.

Sheriff Hodgson is working with Reps. James Lyons (R-Andover), Shaunna O'Connell (R-Taunton), Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) and others on the legislation.

--Bristol County Sheriff's Office

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