BOSTON (AP) — Immigrants in Metro Boston are facing new fears as they navigate daily life, sparking a crisis response from local advocates as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increases operations in the region. Reports indicate ICE agents are targeting individuals at their workplaces, courthouses, and even in store parking lots, prompted by President Donald Trump’s crackdown on sanctuary cities.
Families are reportedly reducing their outings due to heightened concerns about detainment, as unmarked ICE vehicles have been spotted more frequently in immigrant communities. Video evidence has surfaced showing agents detaining landscapers after forcibly breaking into their work vehicle in Saugus.
As the enforcement actions escalate, cities like Everett have discontinued cultural celebrations, citing unsafe conditions for community members. Advocates criticize the ICE's tactics, which they claim instill fear and disrupt the stability of immigrant families.
Prominent public figures, including New Hampshire's Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte, laud the implementation of laws targeting sanctuary policies, signaling a shift in immigration enforcement efforts throughout New England.
Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, expressed concern that ICE's increased visibility serves to heighten anxiety within immigrant communities—many of whom are already exceedingly fearful.
With events like the Patriot 2.0 operation leading to mass detentions, community leaders voice worries about the implications for vulnerable families, including those simply seeking a better life and legal status.
ICE’s policy changes and recent enforcement actions raise significant questions regarding the impact on both legal and undocumented immigrants, leading to calls for more robust protections and understanding in local, state, and federal immigration policies.
