Boston Police Reject Federal Immigration Requests
According to Police Chief Michael Cox, last year, Boston police did not comply with any of the requests from federal immigration authorities to detain individuals under the city’s sanctuary law. In a letter dated January 12 to City Clerk Alex Georgiantas, Cox mentioned that all 57 applications submitted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were denied. Typically, ICE sends detainer requests to local jurisdictions when they find out that individuals who are illegally in the U.S. are in custody.
Cox emphasized the department’s commitment to the Boston Trust Act and state law, highlighting the importance of building and maintaining trust within all communities in the city. “Boston’s immigrant communities should feel comfortable reporting crime and quality of life issues to the department,” he acknowledged.
Detainer requests, which ask local authorities to either hold a person beyond their planned release date or to notify ICE promptly for transfer to federal custody, cited “probable cause” regarding the individual’s status. The letter detailed each request but did not include any information about the individuals involved or the alleged offenses.
Interestingly, the number of detention requests has increased significantly—up from just 15 requests in 2024—according to a letter Cox sent in early 2025. However, since many areas, including Boston, are governed by sanctuary laws, they prohibit collaboration between local law enforcement and federal agencies.
Furthermore, while police in Boston cannot detain individuals solely based on ICE’s requests, the City Council reaffirmed its backing for the Trust Act in December 2025. This situation comes amidst a legal battle, as the Trump administration has initiated a lawsuit against Boston concerning its sanctuary policies.
On the flip side, critics of such sanctuary laws argue that they might put public safety at risk by allowing undocumented individuals, particularly those with prior charges or convictions, to remain in communities, potentially leading to repeat offenses.
