Boston, MA – Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has sharply criticized recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Boston area, labeling them “political theatre” and a “political power grab.” The rebuke comes as ICE agents are actively seeking to locate 71 individuals previously arrested by the Boston Police Department.
According to a statement made on Fox News, an ICE Boston field office official stated agents are focusing on individuals “actionable” for federal immigration enforcement – those with existing detainers or arrest warrants.
governor Healey, in a Sunday interview with MSNBC, reiterated that Massachusetts is not a “sanctuary state,” despite being a frequent target of criticism from the Trump administration regarding immigration policies. She accused the current administration of prioritizing political messaging over public safety. “What we have seen from ICE and from the administration really isn’t about public safety. It’s about political theater,” Healey stated. She further connected the ICE operations to the deployment of the National Guard in cities across the country,calling it “just not right.”
Healey, a Democrat seeking reelection next year, suggested the increased immigration enforcement is “an effort to distract” from economic concerns.
Despite her criticism of ICE tactics, Healey has previously called for increased federal action to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. In May,she told reporters she agreed with some of former President Trump’s border tightening measures and had urged President Biden to “shut down” the border two to three years ago.
