Fifty immigrants in Massachusetts were among the 498 arrested nationwide, in an effort that ended Sept. 27 called Operation “Safe City,” which targeted individuals who had violated federal immigration laws in regions and cities under a sanctuary status.
Of the 50 individuals that officers in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested, 30 have criminal records and 20 don’t, according to figures provided by ICE.
ICE specifically targeted sanctuary jurisdictions because of threats to public safety and potential for widespread illegal immigration that may result, ICE acting director Thomas Homan said in a Friday press release.
“Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration,” Homan said.
As a result, ICE aims to arrest these immigrant offenders, prosecute them for their crimes and ultimately deport the individuals, Thomas Decker, field office director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York, said in the release.
Patricia Montes, the executive director of Centro Presente — a Latino organization fighting for immigrants’ rights and economic justice in Massachusetts — said operations of this nature are the equivalent to “a war against immigrants.”
The data released by ICE betrays their claim that those with criminal records were targeted. While mass arrests of immigrants are not new, there has been an increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies since President Donald Trump took office, Montes said.
“[The Trump administration is] implementing a more organized [detention and deportation] machine,” Montes said. “But it’s also about the anti-immigrant rhetoric and the hate that is taking place right now against people of color, and in particular, undocumented people in the United States.”
So far, Centro Presente has been contacted by two families from East Boston who have someone in detention due to Operation “Safe City,” and are afraid of being detained as well. Without the resources to hire a lawyer, it’s more than likely those arrested will be deported, Montes said.
Heather Perez, a legal fellow at the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project, said the organization works to provide free legal services to asylum seekers and those in immigration detention, like the individuals arrested this past week.
“Part of our mission is providing free legal services for those … who have no right to get a court appointed attorney when they’re facing removal,” Perez said.
Although sanctuary cities are positive in many aspects, they fail to provide a blanket of protection for every immigrant that lives in the city from deportation, Perez said.
When those facing removal are unable to obtain a lawyer, they are forced to represent themselves, Perez said. In this scenario, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to obtain the release they may be eligible for to stay, live and work in the country.
For cases regarding immigrants facing deportation, members of PAIR go to the ICE detention center themselves, and attempt to get detainees representation — either with the organization or a pro-bono attorney, Perez said.
“We have actually met a few people already that are in detention right now, who were recently arrested, and they are scared,” Perez said. “They are members of our community. They have built lives here, and they have families here who depend on them. And they are in need of legal representation.”
Several Boston residents expressed dissatisfaction with undocumented immigrants being arrested by ICE, and said these individuals are more at risk than ever before.
Marquis Greene, 24, of Roxbury, said when operations like “Safe City” are taking place, all individuals deserve the same opportunities and rights, and expressed no undocumented immigrant should be arrested without just cause.
“You get to a point where you’re putting somebody’s life at risk or you’re taking it away from them,” Greene said. “America is a land built off of immigrants. Good luck finding people like these hardworking people who come from these other countries, and they just want a better living.”
Leslie Guglielmo, 49, of the North End, said she believes only immigrants who have committed serious or violent crimes in the past should be arrested.
“I do think immigrants are more at risk currently with this administration,” Guglielmo said. “Contributing members of society, whether they are legal or not, should be allowed to stay.”
Van McLaughlin, 27, of Allston, said since Trump took office, there has been an increase in anti-immigrant policies and actions taken.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s been increased rhetoric as in the whole country,” McLaughlin said. “I mean everyone knows Trump and his agenda and everything he pushes, so since he’s in office, the office technically promotes more anti-immigration than it previously did under Obama. But, overall, I would say the country as a whole is divided about it.”
As an immigration officer (HSI Special Agent and prior ERO Deportation Officer) I can tell you that what transpired in Boston, will continue to happen. Especially, throughout the newly established “sanctuary state” of California.
You see, ERO has traditionally concentrated its removal effort in jails and prisons because:
1. It provides an efficient means of targeting “criminal aliens”
2. It looks good to congress and the American public
3. U.S. jails and prisons provide (unfortunately) an endless supply of easily portable aliens, for statistical purposes.
Likewise, HSI (when we do go after illegal aliens) typically concentrates its efforts on serious criminal (gang members, sex offenders, drug traffickers, etc.) or “special interest” aliens that pose a threat to national security.
Just like all other federal agencies, ICE (HSI and ERO) is constantly” jockeying” to maintain, if not increase it’s operational budget…and one of the best way to justify this to congress, is to produce good stats. Does anyone actually believe (especially Gov. Brown – CA) that ICE is just going to sit back and allow its stats (deported numbers) to dwindle? Never mind the fact that the REMOVAL of UNLAWFULLY PRESENT ALIENS, from the U.S. is A FEDERAL LAW.
As the ICE Director has eluded to, all that will happen is that ICE will be forced to redirect its enforcement efforts back to the community (homes, work places, schools, etc.). This creates more work for ICE for less “stats.”
You don’t feel bad for us, right? Well. guess where we’re going to make up those numbers up? You got it!
When we are forced to find illegal/criminal alien Joe Blow at home / work / school…and we encounter his significant other, child, parents, siblings, cousin, neighbor, co-worker, etc….EVERYBODY goes for a ride! Thank you sanctuary cities/states…you just created more job security fro me and my colleges!
Respectfully,
La Migra