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Nearly 1,500 Illegal Immigrants Arrested In ICE Operation Across Massachusetts
Charlie Kirk Staff
06/02/2025
A federal immigration enforcement operation throughout Massachusetts led to the arrest of nearly 1,500 illegal immigrants in May, many of whom had serious criminal records or ties to violent gangs, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The monthlong effort, known as Operation Patriot, involved ICE’s Boston office and multiple federal agencies. Working in coordination were the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Diplomatic Security Service.
In total, 1,461 individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. were taken into custody. Federal officials said that over half of them had criminal convictions or charges either in the United States or abroad.
“Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality. They are criminal offenders who victimized innocent people and traumatized entire communities — murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators and members of violent transnational criminal gangs,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a safer place today thanks to the hard work and determination of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners.”
Among those arrested were 277 individuals who had previously been ordered removed from the country by an immigration judge but had not complied. Some of those arrested were also subject to international warrants or Interpol Red Notices.
Federal agencies involved in the operation emphasized that the arrests targeted serious offenders. “We are working diligently alongside our fellow law enforcement partners to make our communities safer through the arrest and ultimate removal of nearly 1,500 individuals who flouted the laws of our nation,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Among those arrested include truly alarming criminals: murderers wanted in their home countries, child predators, and drug traffickers.”
The operation focused on criminal networks and gangs operating across the state, including MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street. Many arrests took place in areas where ICE officials say local authorities had released individuals despite detainer requests.
According to ICE, many of the arrests involved at-large enforcement actions after local jurisdictions failed to honor ICE detainers and released criminal suspects into the community. These releases forced federal officers to conduct operations in neighborhoods and other public settings to locate and arrest the individuals.
In one part of the operation, ICE conducted simultaneous enforcement actions on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, arresting around 40 individuals. Among those detained on the islands were a child sex predator and a known member of a violent gang. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted with the transportation of those arrested.
Federal law enforcement emphasized the scale and coordinated nature of the mission. “This was a massive, multiagency immigration enforcement operation aimed at keeping our region safe from habitual lawbreakers,” said FBI Boston Acting Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Milka. “We have identified and removed hundreds of illegal alien offenders from the Commonwealth, including murderers, gang members, child predators and a possible associate of a suspected terrorist.”
“CBP is unwavering in our commitment to protect the American people and make our country safer,” said Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations for CBP in Boston. “We will continue to ensure that all criminal aliens that violate our laws are taken into custody and removed.”
The DEA and ATF also participated, focusing on individuals involved in violent crime and drug distribution. “We continue to prioritize our drug investigations on those involving violent illegal criminals,” said DEA New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau.
All individuals detained during Operation Patriot will remain in ICE custody until their removal proceedings are concluded or until they are deported from the country.
