Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) is under fire for comparing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to neo-Nazis following the arrest of nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in Massachusetts — nearly 800 of whom are accused or convicted criminals.
The operation, led by ICE across the sanctuary state, targeted individuals with serious criminal histories, including charges for murder, rape, sex offenses, drug trafficking, and gang affiliation. Despite the arrests improving public safety, Wu criticized ICE’s tactics, reigniting her pattern of hostile rhetoric against federal immigration enforcement.
“I don’t know of any police department that routinely wears masks. We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks,” Wu said, referencing NSC-131, a known neo-Nazi group based in Massachusetts.
Wu had previously likened ICE agents to President Trump’s “secret police,” drawing parallels to Adolf Hitler’s regime — comments that sparked backlash from federal law enforcement and public officials. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons have both urged Wu to stop the inflammatory comparisons, which they argue endanger federal agents and mislead the public.
Lyons issued a stern rebuke, stating, “Politicians need to stop putting my people in danger. I’m not asking them to stop. I’m demanding that they stop.” He directly addressed Wu, saying, “These are real people with real families you’re hurting with your ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments.”
The arrests have highlighted the ongoing tension between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary city officials who oppose immigration enforcement efforts. Critics argue that such sanctuary policies and public attacks on ICE only embolden criminal behavior and put communities at risk.
As the debate escalates, ICE leadership continues to defend their agents and operations, insisting that the agency’s mission is to protect American communities from individuals who have broken immigration and criminal laws.
