Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu, issued a strong response on Tuesday to the Trump administration’s legal threats regarding the city’s immigration policy. In a pointed letter, she emphasized that Boston would not “subjugate to unconstitutional threats or illegal coercions.”
“The US Attorney General has demanded a response by today, so here it is: stop attacking cities to distract from the administration’s own failures,” Wu noted in a social media update, referencing her formal letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Last week, Bondi had reached out to 32 state and local governments, warning them that failure to support President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement efforts—including in Boston—could lead to loss of federal funding or potential legal repercussions. She criticized the so-called sanctuary jurisdictions for supposedly obstructing federal immigration laws and providing cover for unlawful activities.
In her official response to Bondi, Wu highlighted Boston’s ongoing collaboration with state and federal law enforcement to enhance community safety. “The city’s productive partnership predates your tenure,” Wu stated, noting the Boston Police Department’s historical role in addressing various threats, including counter-terrorism and drug trafficking.
Wu took aim at the Trump administration for what she described as “false and continuous attacks on American cities,” reaffirming Boston’s commitment to being a haven for all. “On behalf of Boston’s residents, we stand together in support of democracy against unconstitutional threats,” she wrote. “Boston will always remain a beacon of freedom.”
The Department of Justice has yet to respond to inquiries regarding Wu’s statements.
The Trump administration’s focus appears to hinge on cities perceived as having high crime rates or those that have resisted aggressive immigration policies. Last week, the president declared a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., assuming control of the metropolitan police and deploying federal resources to address crime in the area.
In June, he had also sent the Marines and National Guard to Los Angeles amid rising tensions over the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
