ICE Launches Enforcement Surge In Massachusetts Called ‘Patriot 2.0’
Federal immigration officials have launched a new enforcement surge in Massachusetts, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Sunday, escalating efforts to dismantle sanctuary protections shielding criminal illegal aliens.
The initiative, dubbed “Operation Patriot 2.0,” follows a May sweep that netted nearly 1,500 arrests in the region.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens,” a DHS spokesperson declared. “If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return.”
Sanctuary Cities in the Crosshairs
The department confirmed that enforcement would cover the entire state but called out Boston Mayor Michelle Wu directly, pointing to her city’s Trust Act, which blocks Boston police from honoring ICE detainers in civil immigration cases.
Wu defended the policy, insisting Boston police still cooperate with federal authorities on criminal cases and warning the city may pursue legal action if ICE “violates constitutional protections.”
The Biden-appointed Justice Department has already sued Boston, arguing the Trust Act violates federal law.
Democrats Cry “Political Theater”
As federal agents ramp up early morning raids across the state, Democrats accused President Trump of targeting their communities.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said Trump is going after cities that “respect our immigrants” and claimed the crackdown “isn’t about public safety — it’s about asserting Trump’s power.”
Gov. Maura Healey (D), who faces reelection next year, echoed the line, calling the surge “political theater.” She argued ICE is sweeping up “construction workers and nannies and health care aides,” rather than violent offenders.
But Healey also admitted that Trump’s push for a tighter border makes sense — an acknowledgment that drew fire from her own party’s progressive wing.
“I told President Biden that he needed to act on the border and shut it down two years ago, three years ago now,” Healey said in May. “I think that some of what Donald Trump has done on the border makes a lot of sense.”
Trump Stands Firm
For President Trump, the message is clear: sanctuary policies will no longer shield lawbreakers. The administration insists that the crackdown is restoring law and order after years of failed enforcement under Democrats.
By directly challenging sanctuary leaders like Wu and Healey, Trump is sending a warning that federal immigration law — not local politics — will dictate the rules going forward.