Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement agencies arrested 1,406 criminal illegal immigrants across Massachusetts between Sept. 4 and Sept. 30, the agency announced in a statement this week.
The roundup, part of Operation Patriot 2.0, targeted violent offenders shielded by the Bay State’s sanctuary policies.
ICE confirmed that among those arrested were rapists, murderers, child sex predators, drug traffickers, and even suspected terrorists.
“More than 600 illegal aliens arrested had significant criminal convictions or pending criminal charges for crimes committed in the United States or were known foreign fugitives,” ICE said.
One El Salvadoran national convicted of indecent assault and assault to rape was apprehended, along with a Brazilian facing pending rape charges, an Indian citizen charged with battery on a minor, a Laotian convicted of second-degree murder, and a Turkish national facing kidnapping charges.
Operation Patriot Targets Sanctuary Cities
ICE launched Operation Patriot in direct response to Massachusetts’s “sanctuary” state policies.
The policies block cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The program’s latest iteration, Patriot 2.0, began on Sept. 6 and focused on Boston and surrounding jurisdictions.
Many of those arrested were affiliated with transnational gangs, including MS-13, 18th Street, Trinitarios, and Tren de Aragua.
Three were identified as suspected or known terrorists.
ICE also reported that 277 of those detained had already been ordered removed by federal immigration judges but had remained in the country.
“Patriot 2.0 exposed the grave consequences of sanctuary policies and the urgent need for local leaders to prioritize their constituents’ safety over politics,” said Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons.
“Every illegal alien we arrested during the operation was breaking U.S. immigration law, and hundreds were violent criminals who should never have been allowed to roam freely in our communities.”
Boston Mayor Wu Under Fire
The arrests have reignited criticism of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat who has long promoted sanctuary policies and resisted cooperation with ICE.
Wu drew backlash in June after comparing ICE officers to a neo-Nazi group, NSC-131, a remark the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called reckless and offensive.
During testimony to Congress in March, Wu claimed Boston was following the law by refusing to honor federal detainer requests.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) pressed her on whether that meant the city refuses to turn over criminal illegals to ICE.
Wu’s evasive answers prompted Comer to conclude: “I think that is a no.”
DHS officials have made clear that sanctuary policies undermine public safety.
In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said:
“Sanctuary policies like those pushed by Mayor Wu not only attract and harbor criminals but protect them at the peril of law-abiding American citizens.”
Trump Administration Response
The operation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on sanctuary cities since President Trump returned to office in January.
Homeland Security officials said no city or state will be allowed to harbor criminal aliens.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens,” McLaughlin added.
“If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return.”
READ MORE – 1,500 Illegal Aliens Arrested in Massive DHS Bust in Illinois
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