Trump administration launches immigration operation in Massachusetts

Photo of Norbu GYACHUNG in Unsplash

In a new deployment of its immigration strategy, the administration of President Donald J. Trump has launched a federal operation in the state of Massachusetts called Operation Patriot 2.0, aimed at the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants identified as "criminal aliens."

According to reports from the New York Times and local Boston media, this new phase follows the original operation in May—Operation Patriot—which resulted in the arrest of approximately 1,500 people in Massachusetts. This time, Operation Patriot 2.0 is planned as a multi-week effort focused on individuals released by local authorities despite having ICE detainers.

Targets in Massachusetts and official criticism

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has justified the operation by stating that its objective is to arrest the "worst criminals" of undocumented immigrants, including suspected pedophiles, murderers, drug traffickers, and members of criminal gangs. DHS directly criticized "sanctuary city" policies like those implemented by Mayor Michelle Wu, asserting that they "attract and protect criminals" to the detriment of public safety.

Boston's response and the local reaction

Mayor Michelle Wu, whose policy of non-cooperation with ICE has been the subject of national controversy, dismissed the operation as a constitutionally questionable attack on the city. Wu stated that, under the Boston Trust Act, local police will not cooperate with federal actions seeking mass deportations without due process.

Meanwhile, local reports highlight that many of the immigrants arrested in previous operations had no criminal record, raising concerns about possible overreach and discrimination in law enforcement.

Impact on the academic and educational community

The expansion of Patriot 2.0 has raised concerns in areas with a high concentration of international students and academics. Institutions such as Harvard and MIT, located in Cambridge and the Boston metropolitan area, are evaluating their response to the operation, fearing the impact on their diverse and cross-border communities.

This crackdown in Massachusetts is part of a broader national strategy by the Trump administration, which aims to intensify immigration enforcement in jurisdictions considered "sanctuary cities," and which could soon be replicated in cities like Chicago.

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Sources:

• Reuters
• The Washington Post