The Department of Homeland Security slammed Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén for characterizing an ICE arrest in Roslindale as an “abduction,” saying that the perp was an illegal immigrant charged with trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

“Boston City Council member Enrique Pepén needs to stop with the smears,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Tuesday in a statement to the Herald. “We did arrest a criminal that this sanctuary politician and his policies released from their jails to terrorize more Americans.

“On Feb. 5, ICE officers arrested Jose Perez-Antonio, a serial criminal illegal alien,” McLaughlin added. “His criminal charges include trafficking cocaine and fentanyl and identity theft.”

The DHS statement was released after Pepén elevated the arrest, which occurred in his Council district, by posting about the circumstances on his social media pages last week.

According to Pepén, in “broad daylight” last Thursday morning, “ICE abducted a neighbor right out of their car in front of Family Dollar in Rozzie Square.”

“Community members and business owners took immediate action notifying LUCE, taking photos of the ICE vehicles, and moving the neighbor’s car to a safer location,” Pepén, an ally of Mayor Michelle Wu, said in a statement. “We are working with our local partners to find out more about the individual taken and how to assist in bringing them home.

“To say that this is scary and not right is an understatement,” Pepén said, adding that he was alerted to the “heinous act” by business owners. “No one should be scared to do their daily errands regardless of their status — especially in our vibrant community. And no one should be witnessing these grave injustices.”

Pepén did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment on the DHS statement.

The arrest occurred hours before the mayor held a press conference at a downtown city building announcing that she had signed an executive order designed to hold federal immigration officials accountable in Boston.

Wu’s executive order bans ICE agents from using city property for civil immigration enforcement activities without a warrant or court order, and directs the Boston Police Department to deescalate potential confrontations between the public and federal immigration officials in the event of an ICE surge.

The mayor alluded to the Roslindale Square arrest in remarks to reporters at last week’s press conference, when asked whether the city was aware of an imminent ICE surge, akin to what occurred recently in Minnesota and Maine.

“We don’t have any information to suggest that there is an imminent change, but there has been continued federal immigration enforcement throughout Boston,” Wu said. “Even earlier today in the city, as we were coming in, we’ve heard from community members about the devastating tactics of people being removed from vehicles while the vehicles are then still just left running in the street.

“I think many of us felt that we wanted to join the governor and also join together in being clear about where we stand and taking the actions that are within our power and authority to protect our residents,” Wu added last week.

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox reported last month the police department ignored all 57 immigration detainer requests issued by federal authorities last year.

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Cox cited the Boston Trust Act, which prohibits BPD and other city departments from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, on civil immigration detainers.

The Trust Act allows for local cooperation with ICE on certain criminal matters, like human trafficking, child exploitation, drug and weapons trafficking, and cybercrimes.

According to DHS, last week’s arrest in Roslindale was for drug trafficking charges.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you break the law, you will face the consequences,” McLaughlin said. “Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.”

Pepén vowed in his statement last week to keep pushing back against ICE enforcement in Boston.

“Make no mistake, these abductions do not make anyone safe,” Pepén said. “Neighbors caring for neighbors do and I will continue to fight to get ICE out of our communities.”