In a recent operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between March 18 and 23, 2025, federal agents arrested approximately 370 individuals in the Greater Boston area. Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s “border czar,” stated that many of these were “collateral arrests,” meaning individuals who were not the primary targets but were apprehended during the enforcement activities.
Homan emphasized that sanctuary cities, like Boston, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, can expect an increase in such collateral arrests. He explained that when local jurisdictions do not honor ICE detainer requests, federal agents are compelled to conduct operations within communities, leading to the apprehension of additional individuals encountered during these actions.
ICE reported that 205 of the 370 individuals arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges. The agency attributed the necessity for at-large arrests to local jurisdictions’ refusal to honor detainer requests, which are requests for local law enforcement to hold individuals for ICE. In Massachusetts, a 2017 Supreme Judicial Court ruling determined that state officials cannot detain individuals solely based on ICE detainer requests.
Governor Maura Healey stated that her office had not received documentation related to the recent arrests and mentioned that she had offered to meet with Homan, an offer he did not accept. Healey reiterated that Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state and highlighted the state’s regular cooperation with federal agencies to ensure public safety.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox have consistently affirmed their cooperation with the federal government on matters of public safety. The city’s sanctuary policies are designed to limit collaboration with federal agents on civil immigration enforcement, aiming to build trust within immigrant communities and encourage the reporting of crimes without fear of deportation.
The debate over sanctuary policies continues to be contentious. Federal authorities argue that such policies hinder immigration enforcement, while local officials maintain that they are essential for fostering community trust and ensuring public safety. As the federal government intensifies its immigration enforcement efforts, cities with sanctuary policies may face increased operational challenges and legal scrutiny.
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