The standoff between federal immigration services and the city of Boston reaches a new level.
Todd Lyons, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced Wednesday that he plans to significantly increase his agency’s workforce in the Massachusetts capital, an initiative that threatens to worsen the already strained relations between federal administration and municipal officials.
In an interview with conservative host Howie Carr, Lyons directly responded to criticism from Mayor Michelle Wu, who firmly maintains Boston’s “sanctuary city” policy. “100%, you’re going to see a larger ICE presence,” he stated, announcing an intensification of operations in the area, as reported by Boston.com.
Under President Donald Trump’s leadership and his mass deportation policy, ICE is focusing its efforts on “sanctuary” jurisdictions, where collaboration between local law enforcement and federal agents is minimal. Boston is one of these jurisdictions, unlike Massachusetts as a whole, according to Boston.com.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, representing the Trump administration, recently sent official letters to officials in these jurisdictions, including Michelle Wu, demanding they abandon their policies. The mayor publicly responded in front of city hall, stating: “Stop attacking our cities to hide the failures of your administration. Unlike the Trump administration, Boston follows the law.”
In response to this resistance, Lyons promised to “flood the zone,” meaning to massively deploy his forces, particularly in sanctuary cities.
To demonstrate his agency’s determination, he highlighted the results of a major operation conducted in Massachusetts last May, which led to the arrest of nearly 1,500 individuals. He also mentioned the apprehension of 370 people earlier this year during an “enhanced operation” that ICE explicitly attributes to the policies implemented by Michelle Wu.
The mayor defends her position by explaining that the Boston Trust Act, which prohibits law enforcement from questioning residents about their immigration status or systematically cooperating with ICE, is designed to improve public safety. “In Boston, we respect and follow all laws: municipal, state, and federal. We will not back down from the communities that have made us the safest major city in the country,” she firmly stated during a press conference.
Lyons, however, considers this approach equivalent to “deliberately releasing violent foreign criminals onto the streets.” “We will continue to fulfill our mission. We will continue to make Boston safe, which she is failing to do with her sanctuary policies,” he criticized.
According to ICE, many Boston Police Department officers wish to collaborate with its services but fear political consequences. “We have so many men and women within the Boston Police Department and other jurisdictions who are pro-ICE, who want to collaborate with us, and who actually do so behind the scenes,” Lyons revealed.
This escalation of tensions in Boston comes amid unprecedented budgetary reinforcement of ICE. Following the adoption of President Trump’s major domestic reform, its annual budget increased from $8 billion to $28 billion. These resources are aimed at massively expanding detention centers, deportation flights, and personnel.
The agency is conducting an intensive recruitment campaign, offering hiring bonuses and student debt relief. Its official recruitment page states that “America has been invaded by criminals and predators.” However, according to Syracuse University statistics, approximately 70% of individuals detained by ICE have no criminal record.
Lyons confidently stated: “You can see all the success we’re having nationwide, and people now understand exactly what ICE’s law enforcement mission is.”
The conflict between the Trump administration and Boston’s municipal government appears destined to escalate, with both sides standing firm in their positions. The announcement of a “massive deployment” of federal agents in the city signals a new phase in the confrontation between Washington and this metropolis that proudly maintains its sanctuary city status.
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Source: Boston.com
