The Trump administration has initiated a new immigration enforcement effort in Massachusetts aimed at arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security was quoted as saying the operation targets “criminal aliens” residing in the state.
The initiative, named Patriot 2.0 by DHS and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is a continuation of a previous campaign in May, which led to the arrest of 1,500 individuals across Massachusetts.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided an official response to requests for comment.
As per a New York Times report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the operation, Patriot 2.0 is expected to run for several weeks. One source stated that the focus is on undocumented immigrants who were released from local jails despite ICE agents attempting to take them into custody.
It remains unclear how many federal officers are taking part in the enforcement action. The Massachusetts operation comes as the Trump administration prepares to escalate deportation activity in Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States.
NBC 10 Boston reported a statement from a DHS spokesperson criticizing sanctuary policies promoted by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
“Sanctuary policies like those pushed by Mayor Wu not only attract and harbor criminals but also place these public safety threats above the interests of law-abiding American citizens. ICE is arresting sex offenders, pedophiles, murderers, drug dealers, and gang members released by local authorities,” the spokesperson said, according to NBC 10.
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With inputs from Reuters