“Boston was born facing down bullies.”

That was a line in Mayor Michelle Wu’s State of the City speech last week. For Wu and fellow progressives, those who come to deport illegal immigrants are the bullies, those who flout immigration law are the victims.

It’s a crowd-pleaser on paper and in front of the right crowd, but in reality, those “bullies” are risking their lives to keep Bay Staters safe, even when it’s not appreciated.

ICE Boston and federal law enforcement partners reported that they arrested 370 “illegal aliens” from March 18 to 23 during an “enhanced operation” focusing on transnational organized crime and gangs. These organizations include the notorious MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street gangs.

“Boston has stood up for the people we love and the country we built, and we’re not stopping now,” Wu said in her speech.

Are violent gangs included in the people we love? Because they certainly don’t love us back.

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.

Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, said this operation “made the neighborhoods of Boston and Massachusetts much safer.”

“ICE had to find and arrest these illegal alien rapists because Massachusetts and Boston are sanctuaries that refuse to cooperate with ICE.”

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; 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; a Honduran convicted of rape of a child, assault and battery of a person over 14 and failure to register as a sex offender; and a Brazilian wanted for homicide in his home country.

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.

“Boston is the target in this fight for our future because we are the cradle of democracy, pioneers of the public good, the stewards and keepers of the American dream,” Wu added in her speech. The “public good” should include keeping lethal drugs off our streets, and keeping the public safe from sex offenders and killers.

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. Of course, that’s the backbone of a “sanctuary city” status: keeping the bullies of law enforcement from deporting criminal illegal immigrants.

It’s a grim state of affairs when gang members and drug traffickers are protected from deportation, while their victims, the real victims of gang violence and drugs, have to watch these criminals evade justice.

The law enforcement agencies that work to remove dangerous criminals from our streets deserve praise and gratitude. They are the opposite of bullies, and Boston is safer for them.

Wu concluded her speech with these words: “God save whoever messes with Boston.” In light of the recent arrests, the crimes with which these people were charged, and the fact that so many were aided by inaction over immigration detainers, one has to ask: who is really “messing” with Boston?

Editorial cartoon by Gary Varvel (Creators Syndicate)