ICE officers arrested at least 82 criminal illegal aliens in a three-day Massachusetts operation, a crackdown federal officials say sanctuary politicians have long undercut.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took at least 82 illegal aliens into custody during a targeted three-day enforcement operation across Massachusetts in the third week of September, Breitbart reported.
ICE officials announced the arrests on Sunday in a social media post and framed the sweep as a direct answer to state policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration detainers.
Massachusetts has long operated as a sanctuary state. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers said those policies leave dangerous offenders on the street instead of turning them over for removal.
ICE Boston Field Office Director Joseph Sher put the blame on state leaders who, he said, keep choosing criminal illegal aliens over lawful residents.
"Time and time again, sanctuary politicians in Massachusetts have made the dumbfounding choice to prioritize dangerous criminal illegal aliens rather than their law-abiding American citizens. While these politicians continue to waste valuable time, energy and resources passing embarrassingly performative legislation such as the Protect Act, ERO Boston will continue to proudly protect Massachusetts communities from these dangerous criminals."
Officials stressed that the operation focused on noncitizens with serious criminal records, not random workplace checks.
Among those arrested was Robson Martins Da Silva, a criminal illegal alien from Brazil. He had been convicted of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Officers also cited him for assault with a dangerous weapon and assault on a family or household member.
Joao Manuel Matos Ferreira, a criminal alien from Portugal, carried convictions for two counts of assault with a motor vehicle. He was also arrested on two counts of indecent exposure and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
Raphael De Oliveira Batista, a previously removed criminal illegal alien from Brazil, was taken back into custody on charges that included assault and battery on a family or household member, threat to commit a crime, and strangulation or suffocation.
ICE officials used cases like these to argue that sanctuary rules do the opposite of what their backers claim.
"Sanctuary policies only put American citizens at risk by allowing dangerous criminal illegal aliens to walk the street freely, without regard to the crimes they have committed."
Ronan Rodrigues Dos Santos, another criminal illegal alien from Brazil, was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, threat to commit a crime, and disturbing the peace.
Cristopher Paul Auqui Cajas, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador, had a conviction for assault and battery. He also faced two counts of assault, disorderly conduct, leaving the scene of property damage, and indecent exposure.
Marlon Alexis Portillo-Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, had a conviction for driving under the influence.
Ricardo Faustin, a criminal illegal alien from Haiti, faced a long slate of charges: five counts of extortion by threat of injury, six counts of larceny over $1,200 by false pretense, larceny under $1,200, larceny by single scheme, and conspiracy.
ICE listed additional offense categories tied to the wider group of arrestees, including assault, battery of a child under 14, possession of child sexual assault material, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, indecent assault, strangulation, and larceny.
ERO Boston made clear it will keep prioritizing high-risk offenders even when state politicians pass bills meant to wall off local cooperation.
Sher singled out the Protect Act as the kind of “performative” measure that burns time and resources while communities absorb the risk.
ICE officials tied the harder line to a change at the top.
"Now, under President Trump and Secretary Mullin’s leadership, sanctuary cities are no longer a safe haven for the worst of the worst, such as child predators and sex offenders."
The agency said the three-day push shows federal officers will keep removing people with severe records whether Massachusetts helps or not.
State and local sanctuary rules have often blocked or slowed compliance with federal detainers. That friction leaves ICE to find and arrest offenders after the fact instead of taking custody at the jail door.
Officials presented the Massachusetts haul as proof that targeted enforcement still works when the priority is public safety over political messaging.
Taxpayers and lawful residents should not have to wait for the next child assault or strangulation case before someone finally acts. Federal officers just did the job sanctuary politicians keep dodging.
