U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of 1,461 individuals in Massachusetts during May as part of Operation Patriot, the agency’s most significant enforcement surge to date. The operation focused on individuals with criminal records, unresolved charges or standing deportation orders.
ICE said of the nearly 1,500 arrested, 790 had prior criminal convictions or open cases, including charges of rape, drug trafficking and child exploitation.
According to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, the month-long operation spanned communities across the state, including Boston, Worcester and Lawrence. Multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. Marshals Service, assisted in the arrests.
Why did ICE launch this operation in Massachusetts?
Federal officials cited what they described as a lack of cooperation from Massachusetts jurisdictions with ICE detainers. Lyons criticized sanctuary city policies and said they resulted in violent offenders being released into the community instead of being transferred to federal custody.
“If sanctuary cities would change their policies,” he said at a press conference on Monday, June 2. “We would not have to go out to the communities and do this.”
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ICE said they arrested 1,461 people during an operation in Massachusetts and claim that 790 of those have been convicted or charged with crimes in the U.S. or abroad.
ICE officials claimed many had reentered the U.S. illegally after prior deportation, while others were wanted fugitives in their home countries. Officers encountered individuals charged with child rape, kidnapping and theft from seniors. One arrest involved a Salvadoran national previously deported for child rape who was found living near a playground.
What are state officials saying about the operation?
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, D, expressed concern over the arrests, especially the detention of 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes, a high school student.
“By their own admission, they have also arrested several hundreds of individuals in Massachusetts and taken them away who do not have criminal records,” Healey said.
She also suggested that ICE should disclose the identities and circumstances of those taken into custody.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, D, also criticized the operation, and warned that broad enforcement without due process undermines public trust and community safety.
“These are actions that continue to lack transparency and instill fear in communities instead of protecting public safety,” Campbell said.
How did ICE respond to criticism?
Lyons defended the agency’s approach, saying ICE agents followed legal procedures and that all detainees would have access to due process through immigration courts. He also addressed criticism over agents wearing masks during operations, citing safety concerns due to previous threats against officers and their families.
U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah Foley said her office has filed charges against over 50 individuals for illegal reentry since January.
“These are not immigrants,” Foley said during a press conference. “They are criminals, and they will be treated as such.”
Will Operation Patriot continue?
ICE officials indicated the operation is ongoing and will expand through June. Lyons emphasized that enforcement actions would persist until local cooperation improves and criminal offenders are no longer shielded from federal custody.
“Make no mistake,” he said. “Ice is going to keep doing this.”
