U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) announced today its largest-ever targeted operation, Operation Patriot. The operation took place in May across Massachusetts, where nearly 1,500 illegal immigrants were arrested.
Out of the 1,461 illegal immigrants who were detained, 790 of them had prior criminal convictions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security listed the charges against some of the detainees on its X account.
These illegal immigrants were arrested by I.C.E. without support from local law enforcement, according to Todd Lyons, acting I.C.E. director.
One highlight for this operation is the fact that it was successful because we worked with our joint partners in a sanctuary state like Massachusetts. Here in Massachusetts, we don't have any cooperations from local departments or from the state which makes it extremely difficult for ICE to get out there and find these bad guys."
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has singled out one of the detainees, who is 18 years-old, according to Fox News.
I’m demanding immediate answers from ICE about the arrest of a Milford High School student yesterday, where he is and how his due process is being protected.
— Governor Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) June 1, 2025
The Trump Administration continues to create fear in our communities, and it’s making us all less safe. pic.twitter.com/8L0bxI7L8V
Lyons responded to the governor's statement on Fox News:
I think what she needs to do is let the federal government focus on what we're doing, and get these people, who have overstayed their visa and violate immigration law out of our country.
On May 29, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which included the entire state of Massachusetts and 13 of its 14 counties, according to NBC Boston. The list has since been removed from the DHS website.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member