Controversy in Boston over mayor's comments on ICE
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu sparked controversy by comparing ICE to a neo-Nazi group, drawing harsh criticism from the federal government.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney criticize Wu's statements against ICE agents by comparing them with neo-Nazis.
Tensions between local and federal authorities escalated this week after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu made forceful statements comparing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to a "secret police" and, indirectly, to a neo-Nazi group, sparking a wave of criticism from the federal government.
During an interview with WBURWu expressed concern about the presence of masked officers in immigration enforcement operations: “I don’t know of any police department that routinely wears masks. We know there are other groups like NSC-131 that do,” he said, referring to a neo-Nazi group based in New England.
The response was immediate. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called Wu's comparison "repugnant," arguing: "When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement officers while wearing masks for protection."
Reaction of federal and state authorities
DHS also accused the mayor of unfairly demonizing federal agents, indicating that her hostile words are having real consequences: “ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults,” the agency warned.
Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, addressed Wu directly with a powerful message: “These are real people with real families that you are harming with your ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments.”
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley also joined the criticism. In a video released by her office, she called Wu's statements "reckless and inflammatory" and a "gross misrepresentation" of the officers' work. "Federal officers cover their faces because people like Mayor Wu have created false narratives about their mission. They have been threatened and assaulted," Foley explained.
Wu, however, stood firm. “The federal prosecutor is attacking me for saying what the people of Boston are seeing with their own eyes,” told WBUR reporters. She also reported that federal operations "intimidate residents" and disrupt the work of local police. "In Boston, our officers make arrests by showing their badges, without hiding their faces, with complete transparency because we have nothing to hide," the mayor said.
The confrontation comes after the announcement of “Operation Patriot,” an immigration enforcement action. in the last 30 days, which resulted in the arrest of 1,461 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts.
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