Federal immigration authorities have detained over 1,000 undocumented immigrants during a month-long enforcement operation in Massachusetts.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), collaborating with other federal agencies, arrested 1,461 undocumented individuals in the state throughout May. This information was shared on Monday. The vast majority of those apprehended had significant criminal histories, including drug traffickers, sex offenders, and murderers.
Patricia Hyde, the acting director of the Boston field office, stated, “It’s clear that everyone we arrested had violated our immigration laws, but many of them have also committed serious crimes.” She added, “These offenders have had a devastating impact on the community, with crimes ranging from murder and rape to drug trafficking and child exploitation.” Some had convictions for violent crimes in the U.S., while others were sought for offenses committed in their home countries.
Of the nearly 1,500 arrests, more than half were individuals with serious criminal convictions or charges, as per ICE’s reports. Around 800 of these immigrants faced legal issues either in the U.S. or abroad.
The recent operation also targeted members of notorious crime groups such as MS-13 and the Trinitarios Gang. ICE confirmed that 277 of those apprehended previously had removal orders from immigration judges but remained in the U.S. illegally.
“This is a significant, multi-faceted immigration enforcement initiative aimed at safeguarding our communities from individuals who consistently violate immigration laws,” said an ICE spokesperson. “With our partners, we’ve successfully identified and removed numerous criminal aliens, including gang members, murderers, and possible terrorists.”
Operation Patriot involved support from various agencies including the FBI and Customs and Border Protection. The Trump administration has increasingly empowered ICE and similar entities to undertake enforcement actions more freely, particularly after the Department of Homeland Security revised its directives in January. This included lifting restrictions on enforcement in sensitive areas like schools and hospitals.
The results speak for themselves. In April, the White House reported over 151,000 arrests and 135,000 deportations in just the first 100 days of the administration.
Boston and Massachusetts have been identified as sanctuary jurisdictions by immigration analysts, appearing on several lists that outline such areas across the U.S. Following the re-election of President Trump, the Boston City Council voted in December 2024 to reaffirm its sanctuary status.
