New Bedford Grapples with Immigration Policy Shifts

Local reporter examines economic impacts and proposed courthouse arrest ban

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A warm, cinematic painting depicting a solitary immigrant worker standing in the doorway of a small business, the scene bathed in soft, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the human impact of changing immigration policies.A community grapples with the human impact of shifting federal immigration policies.New Bedford Today

Kevin Andrade, an immigration reporter for the New Bedford Light, discusses the local effects of the Trump administration's immigration policies and the potential passage of the PROTECT Act, which would prohibit immigration arrests at courthouses, on the New Bedford community.

Why it matters

New Bedford, a city with a large immigrant population, has been significantly impacted by changes to federal immigration enforcement. The proposed PROTECT Act could have major implications for the city's immigrant residents and their interactions with the local justice system.

The details

Andrade, who covers immigration for the New Bedford Light, a nonprofit digital publication, spoke with NBC 10 about the economic toll the Trump administration's immigration policies have taken on the city. He also discussed the potential passage of the PROTECT Act, which would ban immigration arrests at courthouses, and how that could affect the local immigrant community's access to the justice system.

  • The Trump administration's immigration policies have been in place since 2017.
  • The PROTECT Act is currently being considered by Congress.

The players

Kevin Andrade

An immigration reporter for the New Bedford Light, a nonprofit digital publication.

PROTECT Act

Proposed legislation that would ban immigration arrests at courthouses.

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What they’re saying

“The Trump administration's immigration policies have had a significant economic impact on New Bedford's immigrant community.”

— Kevin Andrade, Immigration Reporter

“The PROTECT Act could be a game-changer for New Bedford's immigrant residents, ensuring they can access the justice system without fear of detention.”

— Kevin Andrade, Immigration Reporter

What’s next

The PROTECT Act is currently being debated in Congress, and its passage could have major implications for New Bedford's immigrant community.

The takeaway

New Bedford's immigrant population has faced significant challenges due to federal immigration policy changes, but proposed legislation like the PROTECT Act could help protect their access to the justice system and mitigate the economic impacts.