U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the help of multiple federal agencies, arrested nearly 1,500 illegal aliens during the month-long Operation Patriot, which targeted illegal alien criminal offenders across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality. They are criminal offenders who victimized innocent people and traumatized entire communities — murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators and members of violent transnational criminal gangs,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde.
“Some were convicted of violent crimes in the United States, and others were wanted for criminality in their native countries. All made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Massachusetts,” she added.
ICE arrested 1,461 illegal aliens in May, and 790 of those had significant criminal convictions or charges in the U.S. or abroad. Of those arrested, 277 had previously been subject to removal orders but failed to comply and remained in the country.
The operation extended into some of Massachusetts’ wealthy areas on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, where authorities arrested roughly 40 illegal immigrants, including a child sex predator.
The operation targeted egregious criminals and members of criminal organizations such as the MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street gangs that were federally designated as terrorist organizations by the Trump Administration. The organizations have all been known to operate in Boston or across other parts of the state.
ICE was forced to contend with many of Massachusetts’ sanctuary policies and overcame local jurisdictions refusing to honor immigration detainers. Instead of complying, some local police departments released dangerous criminals, whom ICE and its federal partners needed to track down and arrest themselves.
ICE was joined by the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the ATF, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a list of some of the most egregious offenders, including:
- A 55-year-old Salvadoran national with an active Interpol Red Notice for Aggravated Homicide, Robbery, Aggravated Kidnap and Theft.
- A 32-year-old Guatemalan national and registered sex offender arrested for raping a child.
- A 37-year-old Honduran national with a lengthy rap-sheet, including rape of a child and kidnapping.
- A 22-year-old Colombian charged with raping a child, aggravated assault, and kidnapping.
- A 69-year-old Uruguayan convicting of sexual assault against a seven-year-old girl.
- A 24-year-old Brazilian wanted for murder.
