Boston’s Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu declared on Sunday that her city will not cooperate with the Trump administration’s planned mass deportation efforts, even as Massachusetts faces alarming cases of illegal immigrants with criminal charges being released back into communities.
In an interview with WCVB, Wu was pressed on the Trump administration’s upcoming efforts to enforce immigration laws, set to begin in January. Wu stated that Boston will stand in opposition, signaling the city’s intent to act as a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, regardless of their legal status or criminal history.
“And then we are providing the spaces to reach out directly to our residents, because the last thing we want is for people who are part of our economy, part of our school system, part of our community and the fabric of our city, to feel that all of a sudden they have to retreat into the shadows with because of fear that reaching out to city services, whether it’s calling 911, when you need it, or taking your child to school, those are all city services that have nothing to do with immigration enforcement, and we will continue to protect our residents within those spaces,” she said.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey echoed Wu’s sentiment, vowing to use “every tool in the toolbox” to resist federal enforcement. She also asserted that state police would “absolutely not” assist in these operations, aligning with progressive policies that have drawn sharp criticism from conservatives nationwide.
However, troubling cases highlight the risks associated with such policies.
The Boston area has seen a series of incidents involving illegal immigrants with serious criminal charges who were released back into the community. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently reported apprehending a Colombian illegal immigrant accused of heinous crimes, including enticing a child under 16, distributing obscene material, and posing a child in the nude.
ICE revealed that it had filed a detainer for the individual, which was ignored by local authorities, allowing him to roam free until his apprehension.
