BOSTON – Federal immigration officials have begun a series of raids in Boston and other locations, resulting in the arrests of dozens of people. The operation, code-named “Patriot 2.0,” is a follow-up to a similar sweep that took place in May. It is part of a larger push by the Trump administration to go after so-called “sanctuary cities” that don’t work with federal immigration agents.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security said that the people who were arrested include people who are suspected of significant offenses like drug trafficking, gang participation, and sexual assault. The agency said that these people had been let out from local jails, even though the federal government had asked them to be held for deportation. The government says that Boston’s sanctuary policies, which Mayor Michelle Wu has strongly backed, are a “threat” to public safety because they let dangerous criminals stay in communities.
This most recent enforcement action comes just a few days after the Justice Department, backed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, sued the city of Boston, Mayor Wu, and the Boston Police Department. The lawsuit says that Boston’s sanctuary policies, like the Boston Trust Act, make it harder for federal law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. Bondi said that Boston is “one of the worst sanctuary offenders in America.”
Mayor Wu has strongly opposed the federal efforts, calling the lawsuit a “unconstitutional attack” and an example of “authoritarian overreach.” She stated in a statement that her administration would “vigorously defend our laws and the constitutional rights of cities.”
The Trump administration is trying to make immigration enforcement stronger in sanctuary areas across the country, and the raids in Boston are part of that effort. President Trump has been quite clear about his plans to do something. Recently, he threatened to send federal troops to Chicago to deal with crime and immigration problems. He also recently signed an executive order to change the name of the Department of Defense to the “Department of War.” This order is not legally binding unless Congress approves it. On Sunday, he uploaded a meme on Truth Social that showed a scene from the Vietnam War movie Apocalypse Now with the words “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
Tom Homan, who is in charge of Trump’s border policy, has said that there will be more raids. He said on CNN’s State of the Union, “You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country.” In Chicago, where organizers put off a big Mexican Independence Day party because they were worried about an immigration crackdown, the potential of government action has already caused problems.
Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth spoke with officials at Naval Station Great Lakes and said that the ICE mission is slated to remain until October 5.