Heightened ICE Crackdown in Boston’s Sanctuary Cities Sparks Fear

Boston, Sep 16 (AP) Immigrants in Metro Boston are facing increased detainment as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents target so-called sanctuary cities under President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies. Reports indicate that immigrants are being detained while en route to work, outside of courthouses, and in store parking lots.

This crackdown has led to an unprecedented presence of unmarked ICE vehicles in immigrant communities, with agents reportedly focusing on work vans. Footage captured in Saugus shows landscapers arrested after agents smashed their vehicle's window. Fear grips families who now hesitate to leave their homes.

In response to the tense environment, Everett has cancelled its annual Hispanic Heritage Month festival. Mayor Carlo DeMaria stated that it wouldn’t be appropriate to celebrate when community members feel unsafe. Public figures such as New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte support these measures, who've banned sanctuary city policies in her own state.

The situation has, however, drawn criticism from immigrant advocates who claim ICE’s presence does more harm than good. Elizabeth Sweet of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition stated that fear in communities is already exceedingly high. Some cities, like Boston, and their leaders, including Mayor Michelle Wu, have openly opposed the Trump administration’s crackdown. They view it as an attack on cities to conceal larger administrative failures.

The Department of Justice recently filed a suit against Boston’s sanctuary city policies, which limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents. ICE's latest operation, “Patriot 2.0,” aims to target "criminal illegal aliens" according to Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, but the initiative has sparked concerns about sweeping up non-criminals in collateral arrests.

The effect of "Patriot 2.0" is noticeable in Boston and beyond, with ICE detaining numerous individuals and utilizing correctional facilities across New England. Detainees have been transferred from Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire, with over 300 individuals documented since early August. Protesters, including those at the ICE office in Burlington, have been vocal, some facing arrests for trespassing.

Organizations like the Immigrant Justice Network are stepping up, staffing hotlines with interpreters to manage the influx of reports on ICE activities. Increased activity has raised fears, with many immigrants hesitant about everyday tasks like school pickup. Despite these challenges, many continue to work, recognizing the risk involved in stepping outside but feeling the need to provide for their families. Kevin Lam of the Asian American Resource Workshop reports a spike in ICE operations, including the recent detention of Vietnamese residents in Boston.

Massachusetts US Attorney Leah Foley supports ICE's actions and is prepared to prosecute immigrants without legal status, further intensifying the tension. However, advocates argue that asylum-seekers and legally present immigrants are unfairly targeted. Alexandra Peredo Carroll from the Mabel Centre for Immigrant Justice warns of families being torn apart and individuals with legal relief applications being detained without cause.

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