An early-morning ICE operation Tuesday detained nine workers at Allston Car Wash on Cambridge Street in Boston’s Allston-Brighton neighborhood.
The raid, conducted on Election Day, startled both local residents and the business’s owners. Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon represents Allston-Brighton. She called it “the largest immigration enforcement operation I’m aware of in my district under the Trump administration.”
Co-owner Mike Delaney said nine employees were taken by federal agents soon after the shop opened, as some cleaned customer vehicles. “Our main concern is for our employees who were detained,” Delaney told GBH News. “We don’t want to stir the hornet’s nest… It was pretty crazy.” He said the operation ended around 11 a.m. but declined further details to avoid jeopardizing those arrested.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immediately responds to media inquiries regarding the reasons for the arrests, the immigration status of the workers, or their current location.
Councilor Breadon arrived at the scene around 10:45 a.m. She said she witnessed vehicles leaving the parking lot with people inside. Based on her understanding, all those detained “had documentation — green cards, work permits, or equivalent — but were not allowed to retrieve their papers.” She added that she saw what she believed was an ICE vehicle: “a black SUV with tinted windows and Texas license plates.” “Someone mentioned as many as 17 vehicles. I can’t confirm that number, but it was a major operation for Allston-Brighton,” she said.
A Shaken Community Responds
Community members and LUCE Immigrant Justice Network volunteers arrived soon after the raid. They documented the events and collected witness accounts. Heloisa Galvão, director and co-founder of the Brazilian Women’s Group, said three members of the same family were detained. She noted that no Brazilian nationals were arrested; the detainees appeared to be Guatemalan. “It’s outrageous what the government is doing. We can’t take this anymore,” she said.
Breadon also expressed concern for the human toll: “It’s heartbreaking because these are members of our community. Their children attend our schools, and they worship in our churches. These are workers simply trying to provide a better life for their families.”
This operation comes amid an escalation of ICE enforcement actions across Massachusetts in recent months. In September, “Operation Patriot 2.0” was conducted. The agency reported more than 1,400 arrests nationwide, with over 600 involving individuals with criminal convictions or serious charges. Workplace raids remain among the most visible — and controversial — tools of U.S. immigration enforcement, especially when conducted on sensitive days like Election Day.
As of Tuesday evening, GBH News had not been able to identify the nine detained individuals. Co-owner Delaney declined to release their names, saying only that the company’s focus was on ensuring their legal representation and safety.
Legal and Procedural Questions
Worksite operations of this kind raise recurring legal concerns. These include access to personal identification kept in employee lockers, the existence (or lack) of warrants, and the scope of ICE agents’ authority. According to Breadon’s account, workers were not allowed to retrieve their documents. This point could become central if attorneys challenge the legality of the arrests.
Immigrant rights organizations have reminded the public that all individuals — even those without legal status — retain certain rights during enforcement actions. These include the right to remain silent and to request an attorney. Families are advised to prepare emergency contact plans, designate guardians for their children, and keep medical and legal records readily accessible.
ICE and DHS have yet to issue an official statement. There are unanswered questions: On what legal grounds were the nine workers apprehended? Were they transferred to a detention center outside Boston? What charges or proceedings are being considered by federal immigration prosecutors?
Typically, after such detentions, the legal process begins with individuals being processed by immigration authorities. They are either released under supervision, such as parole, bond, or ankle monitoring, or are placed in removal proceedings. In removal proceedings, an immigration judge reviews the case in court, where individuals may present their defense or seek relief before any final decision is made about deportation.
For employers, such raids cause fear and disruption, including reduced staff, operational losses, reputational harm, and uncertainty over compliance requirements such as Form I-9 and E-Verify. Delaney said his priority was employee safety and avoiding public escalation.
By the end of the day, the Allston-Brighton community was left shocked and mobilized. Advocacy groups sought witnesses, while families turned to legal aid to locate loved ones and determine their next steps.
“This is about neighbors, parents, parishioners,” Breadon said. “It’s a shock to the entire neighborhood.”
Reporting by CTN Boston, based on coverage from GBH News and interviews with Councilor Liz Breadon, Allston Car Wash co-owner Mike Delaney, and Heloisa Galvão of the Brazilian Women’s Group.
