ICE Boston arrests 370 ‘alien offenders’ in Massachusetts in ‘enhanced operation,’ including MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios gang members

ICE Boston and federal law enforcement partners report that they took close to 400 “alien offenders” off the streets last week.

The feds in Massachusetts arrested 370 “illegal aliens” from March 18 to 23 during an “enhanced operation” focusing on transnational organized crime and gangs, ICE Boston reported.

These organizations include the notorious MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street gangs.

“The Commonwealth is a safer place for our residents to live and work because ICE and our federal law enforcement partners arrested hundreds of alien offenders and removed them from the streets of Massachusetts,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Acting Director Patricia Hyde said in a statement. “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around Boston.

“Our efforts resulted in 370 arrests throughout the commonwealth,” Hyde added. “ICE and our federal law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the homeland through the eradication of transnational criminal organizations, dismantling dangerous criminal gangs preying on the American public, locating and arresting criminal alien offenders, and making our communities a safer place to live.”

Of the 370 people arrested, 205 had significant criminal convictions or charges, ICE Boston reported. Six were foreign fugitives currently facing charges or convictions for murder, drug trafficking, organized crime, and money laundering.

Among those arrested during the enhanced targeted operation include: a Chilean convicted of four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old, arrested in Marlboro; a Brazilian charged with manslaughter, homicide by a motor vehicle, homicide while under the influence of liquor, breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a crime, and larceny, arrested in Worcester; and a Honduran convicted of rape of a child, assault and battery of a person over 14 and failure to register as a sex offender, arrested in Salem.

“Everyone should agree that we cannot and will not tolerate individuals who not only violate our immigration laws but then commit crimes that endanger our communities,” Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley. “Those who enter and remain in this country unlawfully are breaking the law.

“My office remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that dangerous individuals are identified, prosecuted, and removed, so that the people of Massachusetts can live and work in safe and secure communities,” Foley added.

Law enforcement officials seized about 44 kilograms of methamphetamines, 5 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, three firearms and ammunition during the operation.

ICE and their federal law enforcement partners reported that they made many of the apprehensions after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests to turn over the offenders.

Related Articles

Crime & Public Safety |


ICE arrests Guatemalan charged with sex crimes against Boston child

Crime & Public Safety |


DEA, ICE, Coast Guard arrest illegal immigrants in Nantucket

Crime & Public Safety |


ICE Boston arrests illegal immigrant convicted of battery on a family member

Crime & Public Safety |


Editorial: Helping rape suspects evade ICE arrest nothing to be proud of

Crime & Public Safety |


ICE Boston nabs Dominican drug dealer charged with assault

ICE Boston announced the arrests as the ACLU of Massachusetts put out a fundraising appeal about deportations. The American Civil Liberties Union in its email urged supporters to tell their state lawmakers to pass the “Dignity Not Deportations Act.”

“Right now, President Trump is abusing power at an unprecedented rate, wielding his deportation machine as a weapon against families who have done nothing more than come to the U.S. seeking a better life,” the ACLU wrote. “In doing so, Trump has already moved with unspeakable cruelty and threatened the rule of law itself.

“Massachusetts should take a stand against this lawlessness, and we certainly should not be doing ICE’s work for them,” the ACLU added. “Tell MA lawmakers: Protect our communities from Trump’s deportation agenda; Pass the Dignity Not Deportations Act to end ICE contracts in the Commonwealth!”

Immigration officials announced they have rounded up 370 “illegal alien” offenders with criminal warrants in a March sweep. (ICE.gov photo)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous post Do you eat a meal in 20 minutes or less? It might be time to slow down
Next post Soup up your travel sewing kit