Natick Select Board Chair's Car Vandalized As Town Clarifies Immigration Policy

NATICK, MA — A Natick immigration policy discussion and debate has turned criminal, as the Select Board chair's car was vandalized ahead of a Wednesday meeting that will further the discussion.

The Select Board is considering a "Welcoming Community" policy, which would formalize the practices already in place by town departments, including the local police. Some, however, have used the topic of immigration to throw around the term "sanctuary city," heightening the tension around the discussion.

As for Coughlin and her vehicle, the board chair told MetroWest Daily News that, until the Select Board has voted on the immigration documentation policy, she wouldn't comment on the situation.

Police, however, have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, but no arrests have been made.

So what is the policy?

As stated above, the immigration documentation policy being proposed is a formalization of what town departments are already doing.

Essentially, the policy states that town employees don't have the clearance to enforce federal immigration policy and, thus, won't ask for proof of immigration paperwork except in the cases they are required by law to do so.

This policy also "shields the town from liability should a town employee violate the policy."

The policy is not, officials stated in a pre-meeting fact sheet, an "offer to provide shelter, housing, legal assistance, or other services to immigrants, documented or undocumented."

It also doesn't "conflict with Natick Police Department policy" or "create a 'sanctuary town,'" officials said.

• Natick Immigration Documentation Policy Fact Sheet

The Select Board presented a draft of this policy on Nov. 20, which prompted a public response with people on both sides of the aisle. A memo about the policy states that town discussions about practices surrounding immigration have been ongoing since at least October 2022.

• Read The Full Memo Here

The Wednesday meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 13 E. Central St.