The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security targeted Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s stance on immigration policy following an ICE arrest of an alleged pedophile with more than 20 charges.

“Does Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu think these pedophiles are above the law? Imagine what our ICE officers could do without Sanctuary City policies that protect illegal alien criminals including child predators, murders, and rapists,” Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X Friday morning.

The post included a picture of Gilberto Avila-Jara, 64, who federal agents arrested on April 1. The arrest was made by agents of the New England field offices of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Avila-Jara was arrested in Lawrence, not Boston, according to the arresting agencies, despite Noem’s post.

The agencies provided no further details on Avila-Jara besides the two-sentence post on X.

Noem’s post is the latest in a long line of statements from members of the President Trump administration who deal with immigration that target Massachusetts, Boston or Wu specifically. The administration has appeared to attempt to make Boston its example of failed “sanctuary city” policies.

Gov. Maura Healey has said that Trump border czar Tom Homan has a “fixation” on Massachusetts. He has promised to bring “hell” to Boston.

President Donald Trump also announced Thursday  sanctuary city “Death Traps” will lose all federal funding going forward. No further details were divulged. Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Concord, Chelsea, Lawrence, Newton, Northampton, and Somerville all qualify as sanctuary cities.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recognized as President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)