Batista Discusses Immigration Policy, Police Oversight and Public Safety

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester/City of Worcester

Questions, Concerns, Opinions?

Worcester, MA- Worcester’s Immigration Enforcement Policy

The discussion covers the city’s immigration enforcement policy, established through an executive order in May 2025, which prohibits the use of municipal property for federal civil detainments while acknowledging the limitations of municipal authority against federal agencies.

“So back in May of 2025, I issued an executive order that really focused on the concerns of the municipality’s response, our response and our interaction with federal immigration agents.” said Batista, “And it also provided some guidelines for our local response and our local involvement with federal enforcement around immigration laws”

Civilian Review Boards and Police Oversight

Batista discusses the ongoing debate surrounding civilian review boards and police oversight, explaining the city’s current systems and the distinction between advisory and regulatory boards within Worcester’s Plan E form of government.

He feels that what is in place for oversight is adequate.

“My job is to put systems in place. And then my job is to hold people accountable. And that’s what I feel strong that I’ve done.”

He was asked if something besides the Civilian Review Board, such as an Inspector General, would make sense for more oversight, “First of all, there’s not many communities across the nation. There’s not one in Massachusetts, but not many across the entire nation that have an Inspector General model.” continued Batista, “Most oftentimes, most civilian review boards across the nation. And in this state, there is a board and there are investigators that are part of the municipality”

He says people are too quick to write off the POST commission, “The Post Commission is the only commission that has the authority to de-certify an officer. And so most, if not all civil review boards have no disciplinary powers”

Speed Cameras and Flock Technology

The conversation also addresses emerging public safety technologies, including speed cameras and Flock license plate recognition systems, with the city currently declining to adopt Flock while remaining open to technologies that enhance community safety.

Summer Events, the Canal District and Worcester’s Waterways

Additionally, Batista highlights Worcester’s successful summer season with increased tourism and community events, expresses support for street closures in the Canal District to create vibrant public spaces, and discusses ongoing efforts to address cyanobacteria in local lakes and ponds through community collaboration.

What Worcester’s Immigration Executive Order Does—and Does Not Do

Worcester City Manager Eric Batista issued an executive order on May 16, 2025, establishing how municipal employees and the Worcester Police Department should interact with federal immigration authorities. The policy draws a line between federal immigration enforcement and the city’s responsibility to provide local services and maintain public safety.

What the policy does

The May 2025 order says:

Municipal employees and Worcester police officers should not ask people about their immigration status during routine interactions.
A person’s immigration status should not affect how the city treats a resident, crime victim, suspect, arrestee, 911 caller or other member of the public.
Worcester police cannot begin an investigation, stop, arrest or other enforcement action solely because of someone’s immigration status.
Worcester police cannot arrest or continue holding someone solely on the basis of a federal civil immigration detainer.
City employees generally cannot participate in operations conducted solely to enforce federal civil immigration laws.
City employees cannot provide federal immigration authorities with municipal records, information or access to nonpublic areas of municipal buildings solely for civil immigration enforcement—unless required by a valid judicial warrant, court order or other applicable law.
Worcester police officers cannot act as federal immigration officers.

The order allows Worcester police to provide limited assistance when necessary to protect officers or the public, prevent a breach of the peace, control traffic, establish a safety perimeter or help apprehend someone who is also wanted on a criminal arrest warrant. City of Worcester’s May 2025 announcement.

What it does not do

The order does not:

Prevent ICE or another federal agency from conducting lawful immigration enforcement in Worcester.
Give city officials or Worcester police the authority to interfere with a federal detention.
Provide immunity from federal immigration law.
Prevent Worcester police from enforcing state or local criminal laws.
Prevent police from responding when an immigration operation creates a traffic, crowd-control or immediate public-safety issue.
Prevent cooperation involving a criminal arrest warrant, judicial warrant, court order or another legal requirement.

Important 2026 expansion

The original May 2025 order did not contain the current broad prohibition against using municipal property to stage immigration operations.

That restriction was added on February 4, 2026. The amended policy prohibits municipal buildings, parks, parking lots, garages, open spaces and other city property from being used to assemble personnel, vehicles or equipment for federal civil immigration enforcement. It also says Worcester will not enter into a federal 287(g) agreement, requires police to take reasonable steps to verify the identities of federal agents and calls for the public release of relevant police body-camera footage. City of Worcester’s February 2026 amendment.

Worcester’s policy limits the use of city personnel, police and property for federal civil immigration enforcement. It does not give the city authority to block federal agents from carrying out lawful federal operations.

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