Todd Lyons, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced plans to increase the agency’s presence in Boston, citing concerns over public safety in jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The comments come after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary policies. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wu stated that “Boston will never back down from being a beacon of freedom, and a home for everyone.” She noted that while Boston supports some federal immigration enforcement, it does not comply with the level of enforcement sought by the Trump Administration.
Speaking on “The Howie Carr Show,” Lyons said additional ICE agents would be deployed to Boston. “We’re going to flood the zone, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions and Boston,” he said. Lyons added that some people may not understand the distinction between sanctuary policies and community safety. “Sanctuary does not mean safer streets. It means more criminal aliens out and about in the neighborhood,” he said.
Also Read: Are Massive Border Wall Materials Worth $350M Headed Back to Government Storage?
Wu’s letter criticized federal actions, stating that they “seek to divide, isolate, and intimidate our cities, and make Americans fearful of one another.” The letter was sent in response to a notice from the Department of Justice requiring states and cities that identify as sanctuary jurisdictions to comply with federal law enforcement, particularly immigration enforcement policies, or face potential consequences, including lawsuits. The notice emphasized that “the Federal Government must restore the enforcement of United States law.”
