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A major US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeting illegal immigrants and transnational crime resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,500 individuals across Massachusetts during the month of May, according to the agency.
The enforcement effort, named Operation Patriot, was conducted in coordination with several federal agencies and focused on individuals involved in serious criminal activity.
The operation was led by ICE’s Boston field office and involved the FBI, CBP, ATF, the US Marshals Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the US Coast Guard.
Of those arrested, 790 had criminal convictions or pending charges either in the United States or in their countries of origin. Some were wanted for murder, rape, child exploitation, and drug trafficking.
“This was a massive, multiagency immigration enforcement operation aimed at keeping our region safe from habitual lawbreakers who have flouted our country’s immigration laws and, in many cases, committed violent crimes that have endangered our families, friends, and neighbors for far too long,” said FBI Boston acting Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Milka.
ICE officials say many of the targets belonged to violent transnational gangs, including MS-13, 18th Street, Tren de Aragua, and the Trinitarios. Several arrests involved individuals with foreign warrants and Interpol Red Notices.
Throughout the operation, agents also focused on areas known for limited local cooperation with immigration authorities. According to ICE, some arrests were made after local jurisdictions declined to honor detainer requests and released the individuals from custody.
“Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. “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.”
Roughly 277 of those arrested had previously been ordered removed from the US by immigration judges but ignored those orders.
Operations also extended to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, where ICE arrested about 40 individuals, including at least one child sex offender and a known gang member. The US Coast Guard helped with transportation logistics from the islands.
“Public safety and national security remain our number one priority, and we will continue to work every day with our partners toward this goal,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol.
The DEA, ATF, CBP, and DSS all contributed to the effort, the news relese states.
Officials say this type of joint operation will continue, especially where foreign nationals are believed to be involved in ongoing criminal activity.
“CBP is unwavering in our commitment to protect the American people and make our country safer,” said Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations for CBP Boston. “We will continue to ensure that all criminal aliens that violate our laws are taken into custody and removed.”
The agency indicated that similar enforcement actions are expected to continue throughout New England.
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