U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement agencies on Tuesday conducted an immigration enforcement operation on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, resulting in the arrests of about 40 illegal aliens.
According to ICE, among the 40 illegal aliens taken into custody on the two Massachusetts islands were one documented member of the MS-13 street gang, and at least one child sex offender.
A gallery of photos from the operation provided by ICE shows federal agents taking the illegal aliens into custody, and the aliens being walked in life jackets to U.S. Coast Guard vessels.
“Operations like this highlight the strong alliances that ICE shares with our fellow law enforcement partners,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde said Wednesday.
“ICE officers and FBI, DEA and ATF agents worked together to arrest a significant number of illegal alien offenders which included at least one child predator,” Hyde said.
“Our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a safe and efficient transport of the alien offenders off Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, ensuring the safety of the residents of those communities,” she said. “ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the operation, with the Coast Guard providing transportation for the arrested illegal immigrants from the islands.
“This operation highlights FBI Boston’s ongoing commitment to supporting our partners at the Department of Homeland Security with identifying and apprehending those who are breaking the law by violating our immigration laws and, in some cases, committing crimes that endanger public safety,” said Kimberly Milka, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.
