Barnstable County votes to implement state executive orders limiting ICE activity on county property

Barnstable County commissioners voted unanimously on April 8 to direct the county administrator to implement Massachusetts Executive Order 650, amended by Executive Order 655, across county-owned and leased properties, a measure proponents said will limit federal immigration enforcement staging and civil arrests on certain county facilities.

Commissioner Bergstrom, who introduced the resolution, said he sought a plan for what the county could do as a public body after attending advocacy meetings about ICE activity. “We have to see if we are covered by the governor's order 650,” Bergstrom said, arguing the county should understand its legal authority and, where appropriate, extend the governor’s protections to county property.

The resolution cites Governor Healey’s Executive Order 650 (Jan. 29, 2026) and its amendment by Executive Order 655 (Mar. 18, 2026), and directs the county administrator to take all steps necessary to implement the orders on Barnstable County-owned and leased properties. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Public commenters who spoke in favor of the resolution told commissioners the presence or threat of ICE enforcement has created fear in immigrant communities on Cape Cod. Wayne Burggeron, a resident who identified his Dennis address for the record, told commissioners that many immigrant families live in constant anxiety about separation and limited access to legal counsel and told the board he feared ICE was operating in a “lawless fashion.” Thomas Ryan, a longtime human-rights volunteer, urged the county to implement “especially sections 2 and three” of the executive orders, which he said disallow civil arrests and forbid county facilities from being used to facilitate enforcement actions. Steve Leewoods said the county had “the opportunity to to take a bold step to protect people's rights.”

Commissioners discussed the legal and practical implications before the vote. Bergstrom said he had asked the administrator and counsel to assess legal ramifications; commissioners said they expected staff to coordinate implementation details and to advise towns and local service providers as appropriate.

The resolution directs county personnel to take necessary steps to comply with the orders; the board did not adopt additional enforcement mechanisms at the April 8 meeting. The administrator will report back to the board on implementation steps and legal guidance in future meetings.