Healey signed the Protect Act during a ceremony in Chelsea, describing it as the strongest state law of its kind. She said the measure was prompted by growing fear among immigrant communities, arguing that ICE enforcement has discouraged children from attending school, patients from seeking medical care and witnesses or victims from appearing in court. "The law I'm signing today is a public safety law," Healey said, adding that while immigration reform and border security are needed, "ICE is so wrong in what it's doing and ICE needs to be stopped," as CBS News reports. The law comes as federal immigration enforcement has intensified across the country. Nursing homes and hospitals are going to face even greater staffing shortages.