A monthlong immigration crackdown in Massachusetts resulted in the arrests of nearly 1,500 illegal immigrants, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators, gang members and foreign fugitives.
Federal and state authorities held a news conference Monday to announce the operation, dubbed Operation Patriot, that took place in communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during the month of May.
And they have a message for anti-ICE activists and politicians: “We’re not going away.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners focused on transnational organized crime, gangs and “egregious illegal alien offenders,” according to an ICE news release.
“Some were convicted of violent crimes in the United States, and others were wanted for criminality in their native countries,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde in the release. “All made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Massachusetts.”
ICE posted about the operation and a link to the news conference on X. ICE Boston led the effort with support from multiple federal agencies.
- More than half the 1,461 arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges.
- 790 individuals were charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States or abroad.
- 277 had been previously ordered removed from the United States by a Justice Department immigration judge.
ICE announced today that nearly 1,500 illegal aliens were arrested during a monthlong enforcement operation targeting transnational organized crime, gangs, and egregious illegal alien offenders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Details at https://t.co/UjTv4cPquC pic.twitter.com/m39nBuQfyq
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 2, 2025
Among those arrested:
- 55-year-old Salvadoran national with an active Interpol Red Notice for aggravated homicide, robbery, aggravated kidnap and theft in El Salvador.
- 32-year-old Guatemalan national and registered sex offender who is pending criminal charges in Boston for five counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over and trafficking a person for sexual servitude.
- 37-year-old Honduran national whose most recent arrest in Fall River was for rape, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, witness intimidation, and kidnapping of a minor by relative.
- 22-year-old Colombian national charged with breaking and entering building during the daytime for a felony, kidnapping, aggravated rape, and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over.
- 39-year-old Honduran national who has convictions in Lynn for obscene material to a minor, enticing a child under 16 and attempt to commit crime.
- 45-year-old Guatemalan national who has a 2020 conviction for murder in Boston, for which he received a life sentence.
- 29-year-old Brazilian national charged in Edgartown with aggravated rape of a child by force, possession of child pornography and dissemination of obscene material.
- 48-year-old Salvadoran national whose criminal history includes charges of aggravated rape of child by force, indecent assault and battery on a person under 14, and open and gross lewdness.
- 32-year-old citizen of Brazil who has an active Interpol Red Notice from Brazil for drug trafficking and drug trafficking association.
- 24-year-old citizen of Brazil who has an active Interpol Red Notice out of Brazil, where he is wanted for murder.
📢Happening now LIVE
ICE announces results of month-long immigration enforcement operation focused on transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious illegal alien offenders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
📺Watch now at https://t.co/3gSkVW86pC
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 2, 2025
Many individuals had been released from local custody with no notice to ICE, after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests. Officers and agents had to make at-large arrests in Massachusetts communities.
Last week, immigration sweeps in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard made national headlines. Authorities arrested around 40 illegal aliens, including at least one child sex predator and a member of a violent transnational gang.
Officers from ICE Boston partnered with the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the ATF, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Coast Guard helped with the operation.
“Among those arrested include truly alarming criminals: murderers wanted in their home countries, child predators, and drug traffickers,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Public safety and national security remain our number one priority, and we will continue to work every day with our partners toward this goal.”
The effort targeted transnational criminal organizations known to operate in and around Boston and throughout Massachusetts. These organizations include the notorious MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios and 18th Street gangs.
In addition, the roundup included individuals who had foreign arrest warrants and Interpol Red Notices, apprehending criminal alien offenders wanted by authorities in several foreign countries.
“This was a massive, multiagency immigration enforcement operation aimed at keeping our region safe from habitual lawbreakers who have flouted our country’s immigration laws and, in many cases, committed violent crimes that have endangered our families, friends, and neighbors for far too long,” said FBI Boston acting Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Milka.
Fox News embedded with ICE agents deployed in the Greater Boston area on Thursday, May 29, which ICE Boston shared on its own X account:
“ICE @EROBoston arrested criminal alien offenders including one alien wanted for aggravated murder, several charged with child sex crimes and one charged with drug trafficking crimes. All were roaming the streets of Massachusetts. We’re not going away.”
ICE @EROBoston criminal alien offenders including one alien wanted for aggravated murder, several charged with child sex crimes and one charged with drug trafficking crimes. All were roaming the streets of Massachusetts. We're not going away.
Link: https://t.co/fvjPZfSqfX— ERO Boston (@EROBoston) May 31, 2025
Bill Melugin, a national correspondent for FOX News, posted footage on X. ICE Boston also confirmed local anti-ICE activists have been interfering with their operations daily and arrests.
EXCLUSIVE: We joined one of more than a dozen ICE teams deployed in the Greater Boston area yesterday, where we witnessed the arrests of a previously deported child rapist living next to a playground, a Salvadoran alien on El Salvador’s most wanted list w/ an Interpol Red Notice… pic.twitter.com/eLHtBWMFS2
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 30, 2025
“Yesterday alone, in East Boston, ICE said one of their teams arrested a criminal alien and put him in cuffs, when a group of activists grabbed him and tried to pull him into their car,” Melugin said. “Separately, in another incident yesterday, ICE was surveilling an alien murderer’s home when a crowd surrounded them and blew their cover, forcing them to pull off of the target.”
Melugin asked ICE Boston Chief Patricia Hyde what her message is to politicians who keep fighting ICE.
“We’re not going away, it might take us longer, it might be harder, but we’re not going away,” Hyde told FOX. “We’re here, we know what the American people voted for, we understand that we work for the American people, and we’re going to be here until we send everyone home.”
Those detained during Operation Patriot will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of their removal proceedings or their deportation from the United States.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
