BOSTON — As Mayor Michelle Wu prepares to address Congress about Boston’s stance on immigration, tension is brewing between the city’s administration and the Trump-era authorities regarding police involvement in deportation procedures.
Former President Trump’s border advisor, Tom Homan, criticized Boston’s police leadership during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, accusing the city of not surrendering nine alleged “child rapists” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Homan threatened to visit Boston, promising to “bring hell” along with him.
ICE has not commented on these allegations, and Homan did not offer details about his visit plans. Boston’s predicament is not unique; similar accusations of non-cooperation with ICE from other state and local jurisdictions across the country have surfaced.
In the upcoming House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, Wu will join the mayors of Chicago, New York, and Denver—cities facing similar dilemmas under “sanctuary city” policies.
The crux of the issue lies in the interaction between federal, state, and local laws. While ICE has the authority to execute immigration laws nationwide, the agency often requires assistance from local law enforcement to detain individuals for deportation. However, sanctuary city policies limit this cooperation when dealing with individuals merely accused, but not convicted, of crimes to protect those lacking legal resident status.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden stated, “If someone’s committed a serious offense, our position is to hold them accountable,” emphasizing that immigration outcomes post-accountability are a federal concern. Hayden believes cooperating with federal immigration initiatives might deter cooperation from immigrant communities in local investigations.
Concerns have been raised over the potential impact of deportations on community safety. “We don’t want people’s fear of immigration consequences to deter our efforts to hold individuals accountable,” Hayden elaborated. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox clarified that police do not enforce federal immigration laws and that the immigration status of individuals does not jeopardize public safety.
Boston’s Trust Act, revised in 2018, explicitly allows police cooperation with ICE in cases posing significant public safety threats while barring involvement in civil immigration enforcement. Additionally, a 2017 Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling prohibits detaining individuals eligible for release solely on federal requests.
In response to Homan’s statements, Mayor Wu, who is seeking reelection, called his remarks “clueless” and “insulting.” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey deemed the comments as “unproductive.” District Attorney Hayden noted the importance of civil discourse on immigration matters, rejecting hostility.
The current climate has left local faith communities concerned, with congregants hesitant to engage in regular activities such as visiting food pantries due to fear of deportation. Minister Arlene Hall highlighted, “The fear is not limited to the undocumented; it spreads much deeper in the community,” stressing the need for Washington policymakers to acknowledge these realities.
Josh Kraft, Wu’s electoral contender, advocates for the removal of violent offenders but criticizes mass deportations and Homan’s “inflammatory rhetoric.”
There are threats of repercussions for non-compliance with federal law regarding immigration. A dramatic video from the Republican-led committee casts Mayor Wu and other city leaders as lawbreakers, with Rep. James Comer suggesting cuts to federal aid for non-cooperative cities.
Legal disputes have ensued, with the administration targeting jurisdictions like Illinois and Chicago for federal law violations. Meanwhile, municipalities such as Chelsea and Somerville have retaliated, claiming the federal government is infringing on their constitutional rights.
