- Agents wear masks due to 300% surge in death threats since 2022
- Massachusetts operation detained 1,461 individuals across 8 communities
- 54% of detainees had prior criminal convictions including assault and drug charges
- 277 faced active deportation orders from federal courts
- Sanctuary jurisdictions complicate 22% of ICE's daily operations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership continues grappling with operational challenges as sanctuary jurisdictions refuse cooperation in 18 states. Acting Director Todd Lyons emphasized agent safety concerns during a fiery Boston press conference, revealing officers’ families endured swatting attempts and car vandalism. When our children start getting targeted at schools, we draw the line,Lyons stated while displaying arrest statistics from May’s multi-city operation.
The 11-day Massachusetts sweep focused on communities from Martha’s Vineyard to Springfield, prioritizing individuals with violent criminal histories. Analysis shows 62% of detained immigrants had charges beyond immigration violations, including 94 domestic abuse cases and 37 narcotics trafficking indictments. Federal courts had previously ordered 19% of arrestees removed from the U.S., though sanctuary policies prevented local law enforcement from transferring custody.
Regional tensions escalated when DHS published then retracted its controversial sanctuary cities list, accidentally including Trump-friendly Texas counties. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu counters that ICE’s enforcement tactics decreased domestic violence reporting by 41% in immigrant communities last quarter. We’ve seen families choose abusers over deportation fears,Wu testified during March congressional hearings.
Operational data reveals ICE now conducts 143% more daily arrests compared to 2023 averages, nearing Trump administration targets. The agency’s restructuring merged deportation and investigative divisions, creating specialized teams for tracking violent offenders. Despite court rulings upholding sanctuary laws, Lyons warns: Every non-cooperative city forces us into riskier public apprehensions.
