Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has expressed intentions to increase the agency’s presence in Boston after Mayor Michelle Wu reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary policies.
In a recent interview on “The Howie Carr Show,” Lyons threatened that the agency would “flood the zone” in Boston, describing sanctuary policies as detrimental to public safety.
His remarks came after Wu publicly stated on Tuesday that Boston would “not back down” from its stance, which limits police cooperation with ICE on civil immigration enforcement efforts.
Lyons emphasized the agency’s commitment to enhancing its operations in areas that maintain such policies.
He stated, “Obviously, Boston and Massachusetts decided that they wanted to stay sanctuary… So 100%, you’re going to see more ICE presence.”
In contrast, Wu’s office responded to Lyons’ statements by highlighting the city’s diverse and immigrant-rich population, which was reported to be over 28% foreign-born as of 2021.
Wu remarked, “This is a beautiful, diverse, incredible city, and I have said it now very directly: This administration needs to stop attacking cities to hide their own failures.”
Boston has seen a consistent decline in crime rates, with homicides reaching a historic low by the end of 2024.
Robberies, aggravated assaults, and motor vehicle thefts have also been reported to have decreased across Massachusetts, reflecting the city’s assertion of safety despite the federal government’s claims.
Recently, tensions have escalated further when the Justice Department sent letters to 35 sanctuary jurisdictions, including Boston, demanding an end to their immigration protections.
The letters, which had accompanying threats of cutting off federal funding and legal consequences for public officials, ordered these jurisdictions to outline plans for compliance.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s letter conveyed, “You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages in sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States. This ends now.”
In response, Wu vehemently defended Boston’s policies in a letter addressed to Bondi.
She characterized the DOJ’s demands as an “attack” on U.S. cities and a means to instill fear among Americans.
Wu asserted, “On behalf of the people of Boston, and in solidarity with the cities and communities targeted by this federal administration for our refusal to bow down to unconstitutional threats and unlawful coercion, we affirm our support for each other and for our democracy.”
She proclaimed, “Boston will never back down from being a beacon of freedom, and a home for everyone.”
During a news conference outside City Hall, Wu criticized the Justice Department’s stance, asserting, “You are wrong on the law and you are wrong on safety. Most of all, you are wrong on cities.”
Boston’s commitment to immigration protections has its roots in the 2014 Boston Trust Act, designed to foster trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities.
The legislation was amended in 2019 to clarify that, while the Boston Police Department may collaborate with ICE on significant public safety issues, it would refrain from engaging in civil immigration enforcement.
The City Council further solidified this commitment at the end of 2024 by adopting a resolution reaffirming the Trust Act.
The resolution stated, “The Trust Act’s provisions have been instrumental in fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all residents, ensuring that immigrants can engage with local law enforcement without fear of deportation.”
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen how the escalating tensions between Boston and the federal government will impact the city’s immigrant community and public safety measures.
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