Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley has criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for her recent comments regarding federal immigration enforcement, labeling them as ‘reckless and inflammatory.’
In a video released by the U.S. Attorney’s office, Foley took issue with Wu’s characterization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as ‘secret police’ during an interview with WBUR last week.
‘Referring to federal agents as ‘secret police’ is offensive,’ Foley stated, asserting that ICE operations are not conducted in secret. ‘There are no secret police. ICE agents, along with other federal law enforcement partners, are making immigration arrests. That is no secret.’
The exchange comes in light of Wu’s criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly the recent enforcement operation dubbed ‘Operation Patriot,’ which led to the arrests of nearly 1,500 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts.
The Mayor expressed concerns about the impact of ICE’s actions on community safety, stating, ‘People are terrified for their lives and for their neighbors.’ In her interview, she described ICE officers as ‘folks getting snatched off the street by secret police who are wearing masks.’
Wu’s statements prompted a stern response from Foley, who described them as a ‘gross misrepresentation and a disservice to the public.’ Foley defended the federal agents’ actions as compliant with the law, stating that every enforcement action occurs within the bounds of the Constitution and involves oversight, legal justification, and accountability.
Furthermore, Foley noted that the need for federal agents to wear masks is a direct response to the threats and harassment they have faced, partly attributed to narratives propagated by political leaders like Wu. ‘Federal agents in marked jackets and vests are masking their faces because people like Mayor Wu have created false narratives about their mission,’ Foley said.
Later in the day, Wu reiterated her stance, stating that ICE’s operations are undermining local safety and complicating the work of Boston police. She contrasted the actions of local police, who typically do not wear masks and remain transparent in their operations, to ICE’s methods, which she claims foster fear in the community.
‘Our police officers work hard at it every single day. They are in very difficult situations every single day. Boston police make arrests. They are on the street 24 hours a day,’ Wu emphasized. ‘They do all of this without wearing masks, displaying their badges publicly, with body cameras that document the interactions that take place with full transparency, because we have nothing to hide.’
This disagreement is further complicated by the announcement of ‘Operation Patriot.’ During the operation, which spanned a month, federal agents arrested 1,461 illegal aliens, with 790 individuals being charged with or convicted of crimes in the U.S. or abroad. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who previously led the Boston field office, noted that federal agents have recently received death threats and harassment as a result of their enforcement operations.
‘I’m sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks,’ Lyons remarked. ‘But I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is.’
Lyons further expressed frustration regarding the underlying issue of public perception. He questioned whether concerns were genuinely about the masks or about the enforcement actions that ICE carries out. He indicated that the backlash against ICE officers is driven by a misunderstanding of their role and the necessity of their presence in the community.
The escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement have not only been a focal point for Wu but have also impacted the local political landscape. A recent mayoral forum in Boston revealed the charged atmosphere around immigration issues, with candidate Josh Kraft expressing a determination to resist the Trump administration’s deportation policies, which led to loud reactions from the crowd.
Wu has also referenced the federal government’s policies during a Congressional hearing in D.C. this past March, emphasizing the city’s sanctuary status and its limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities. ‘Every aspect of what’s happening at the federal level is causing harm in our local communities,’ she said, echoing her sentiments that ICE’s actions are creating a climate of fear.
In light of these discussions, Foley’s office reiterated their stance on federal immigration law and enforcement. In a video released Wednesday, Foley took aim at Wu’s comments regarding ICE agents ‘snatching people off the street,’ labeling such statements as ‘false’ and ‘offensive to the men and women who risk their lives every day to uphold the rule of law.’
Foley argued that every detention or arrest is conducted following federal law and that the U.S. Attorney General’s Office supports the actions of federal law enforcement. She added, ‘Regardless of the noise being generated by politicians, who either do not understand federal law, or simply believe our nation’s immigration law enforcement should not be enforced, we will not apologize for doing our job.’
The conversation surrounding immigration policies continues to ignite debate among elected officials at various levels in Massachusetts. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley recently condemned the Trump administration’s actions, highlighting their impact on immigrant families in her district. She pointed out that such enforcement actions are ‘not about safety or law and order,’ but rather about ‘terrorizing immigrant families, abusing power, and sowing fear in our communities.’
As both sides stand firm in their views, the public discourse around immigration enforcement, community safety, and local law enforcement practices is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
image source from：https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/06/04/massachusetts-u-s-attorney-leah-foley-slams-boston-mayor-wu-for-false-narrative-of-ice/
