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‘Outrageous behavior’: ICE arrests spark strong reactions from readers
More than 180 readers shared how recent ICE arrests and detainments are affecting them, their families, and their communities.
Immigration enforcement in Massachusetts has intensified in recent months, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining nearly 1,500 individuals statewide in May alone. Boston.com readers were both critical of and applauded the efforts by federal authorities to crackdown on undocumented immigration in Massachusetts, according to a recent poll.
Of those detained statewide, approximately 790 individuals had allegedly committed crimes or violated immigration laws, ICE said. The detainments were a part of a campaign by federal immigration authorities called “Operation Patriot,” part of the Trump administration’s focus on alleged criminal offenders.
A particularly controversial arrest involved 18-year-old Milford High School student Marcelo Gomes da Silva. He was detained by ICE on May 31 while driving to volleyball practice. Although not the original target – his father was – the arrest sparked public outrage, including protests in Milford and criticism from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who was “disturbed and outraged” by the arrest. At a scheduled hearing in Chelmsford on Thursday, the teen was granted bail by an immigration judge.
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In addition to da Silva, several other arrests have drawn attention, like that of Rümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Tufts University student. She was arrested on March 25 by masked ICE agents near her home in Somerville. She had co-authored an article criticizing the university’s response to the Tufts Community Union Senate’s resolutions on the ongoing war in Gaza. Öztürk was detained across multiple states before being released on bail.
The surge in ICE arrests has sparked political debate both nationally and locally. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu criticized ICE’s tactics, likening agents to “secret police” and expressing concern over masked agents detaining individuals. However, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, Leah Foley, rebuked these remarks as “reckless and inflammatory,” asserting that ICE operations are lawful and transparent, with agents wearing masks due to threats and harassment. Wu responded again on Wednesday, saying she doesn’t “know of any police department that routinely wears masks.”
When we asked Boston.com readers to weigh in on the arrests and detainments – and how they are impacting their community – we heard from over 180 respondents.
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Many readers were critical of ICE and shared stories of neighbors or community members being targeted or detained by ICE, or simply fearful for their lives.
“People who are legally here are scared. This anxiety and stress on children must stop.”
—Reader Julia B. from Haverhill
“I have seen after school programs require locked doors in fear of ICE. People who are legally here are scared. This anxiety and stress on children must stop,” reader Julia B. from Haverhill said.
In January, President Donald Trump ended a policy to prohibit ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement from “sensitive” areas like schools, places or worship, and healthcare facilities, meaning immigration authorities can enter these spaces for arrests.
However, some local school districts have pushed back against the policy. Worcester Public Schools said it would maintain protections to safeguard students and will will not allow ICE access to the school district.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who has been critical of the immigration raids, said Monday that the arrests instill fear in the immigrant community, and do not promote a sense of protection or safety, according to The Boston Globe.
“Arresting people without any criminal record or allegations of criminal activity, detaining individuals in broad daylight without due process, and promising to patrol neighborhoods with no oversight is not reflective of a democratic society — it’s a threat to it,” she said.
Not everyone was critical of the arrests, however. Many Boston.com readers were in favor of ICE’s actions, saying the federal agents are doing their job to uphold federal immigration laws.
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“If a person entered the country illegally, they’ve broken federal immigration laws. Therefore they should be arrested and deported,” reader Kurt L. from Berkshire County said.
However, being present in the United States in violation of immigration laws is not a crime in itself, according to the ACLU.
“While federal immigration law does criminalize some actions that may be related to undocumented presence in the United States, undocumented presence alone is not a violation of federal criminal law,” the non-profit organization said in a brief.
According to U.S. Code Title 8, Section 1325, entering the United States without being inspected and admitted, is a misdemeanor or can be a felony, depending on the circumstances. But “mere undocumented presence in the United States alone, however, in the absence of a previous removal order and unauthorized reentry, is not a crime under federal law,” the ACLU added.
As the debate continues over the balance between national security and individual rights, and the role of local authorities in federal immigration enforcement, Boston.com readers weighed in on ICE arrests and detainments in Massachusetts – and how they’re impacted.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
How do you feel about ICE arrests or detainments in Massachusetts?
“I teach and live in two different communities that have been profoundly impacted by ICE activity. I have young students whose parents have been detained and likely to be deported (without them). I love the immigrant community that I teach and the neighbors in my community. It is extremely upsetting and heartbreaking to see families torn apart, and people in fear every day that they will be separated from loved ones. We need to do something more.” – Shanna L., Milford
“Outrageous behavior! Absolutely no need to take an 18-year-old [student] into custody and shackled to parts unknown. I’m a Connecticut resident about 40 mins from Milford, MA and this is close to home. I feel for his family and all those friends and students that now have to deal with this. It’s deliberate and spiteful.” – Gloria M., Putnam, Connecticut
“I’m disgusted with ICE. While I applaud them picking up criminals, it seems they’re hunting non criminals like prey. Concentrate on the gang members and criminals and leave the hard working people alone.” – MaryAnne J., Cape Cod
“I’m aware of two people being detained recently in my community. Men on their way to work. No criminal records. Fathers. One missed his child’s high school graduation. The other was torn away from his newborn. I get it – our immigration system has been broken for many years and I agree it needs reform. But tearing my neighbors’ families apart is inhumane. I also work in higher ed with many students here on protected status. I get it – it’s temporary. But why let folks make a life here to rip it away from them? They are hardworking people just trying to do the right thing and live their lives. Enough.” – Amanda, Winthrop
“I do not support any person being detained and deported without due process. They should have legal representation and they should remain local until their case has been seen by a judge.” – John, Marlborough
“ICE’s tactics are deliberately designed to create fear and hostility in our communities. Forcibly smashing car windows and pulling people out of their vehicles, targeting them at their places of worship/at schools, etc. is clearly over the line and out of bounds, especially when being undocumented is a civil offense.
More concerning is ICE’s refusal to identify themselves, identify who they’re looking for, or present warrants. I understand the pushback regarding wearing masks. But in a world where ICE vests can be purchased on Amazon, the bare minimum should be that officers show their credentials, as well as the warrants they are working under. How are communities supposed to trust or work with our law enforcement, if they are the ones so blatantly violating basic rights?” – Gwen B., Framingham
“ICE activity anywhere in the country is about as un-American as it gets. As someone who was born in this country as a great-grandchild of Irish immigrants, it is an embarrassment. I am embarrassed by what this country has become, I am embarrassed by the ways we are treating each other and our neighbors, I am embarrassed to raise my children here. It is getting harder and harder to explain to them what they are seeing every day on the news and going on around them. It is a lie that these operations are making us safer. A scared populace is not a safe one.” – Brenna R., Arlington
“I feel great about it if it is taking gang members, criminals, and sex offenders off our streets, which they have. I feel angry about the illegal/legal immigrants that ICE apprehends that aren’t any of the above. I understand it is illegal to come into our country the wrong way, but the fact that many are hardworking and spend money in our state, makes no sense for them to be deported.” – Steve, Rochester, New Hampshire
“If an individual has an arrest warrant or a history of breaking the law he/she should not be here. If a person came here illegally and is trying to support his/her family here or elsewhere, I have no problem with them. Where I live, the island [Nantucket] cannot survive without these workers. For the most part they are honest, hardworking people trying to survive. Many are active in the community and they contribute in many ways.” – Ginny L., Nantucket
“I have no issue with it as long as they deport alleged criminals. Congress should act to pass legislation to address amnesty for the other immigrants.” – Matt, Hopkinton
“Unless current immigration laws have changed, these agents are doing their job and enforcing the law. It’s unfortunate that some parents who entered illegally also brought their children who would be subject to the same fate of arrest and deportation.” – Larry F., South Shore
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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