Press Release: 5/29/2026
Statement from Governor Maura Healey on Department of Justice Lawsuit Regarding Confidential Plates for ICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/28/2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Jacqueline Manning, Press Secretary
Phone
Call Jacqueline Manning, Press Secretary at (617) 725-4025
Online
Email Jacqueline Manning, Press Secretary at jacqui.manning@mass.gov
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey today released the following statement in response to the Department of Justice lawsuit challenging Massachusetts’ policy regarding confidential license plates:
“In Massachusetts, we support law enforcement doing legitimate criminal investigative work, and local, state, and federal agencies doing that work can request confidential plates. But that’s not what we are seeing from ICE and its unconstitutional tactics. We are not going to use state resources to help ICE operate in secret, and without accountability, while refusing to provide basic information about who they are arresting and why. That makes our communities less safe, undermines public trust, and will not be allowed in this state.”
Under RMV policy, all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies primarily engaging in criminal investigative work, including the FBI, DEA and ATF, may obtain confidential license plates for vehicles used for criminal law enforcement purposes, so long as they identify a qualifying need. But agencies that primarily engage in civil enforcement activity are not eligible, and that policy applies equally to federal, state, and local agencies. For example, both the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service are ineligible for confidential plates under the policy.
This morning, Governor Healey issued statewide guidance for schools, child care providers, higher education campuses, health care facilities and places of worship on interacting with ICE and federal immigration enforcement in order to help ensure Massachusetts residents can continue safely accessing essential services and public spaces.