Flurry of ICE raids follow border czar's threats of 'bringing hell' to Boston

U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan’s threats of "bringing hell" to Boston seemed to materialize over the last week.

Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Monday that officers had carried out a series of raids in and around Boston, resulting in the apprehensions of 370 people.

In a post on X on Monday, Homan said he visited the area March 18 to kick off the operation.

ICE officials said the raids involved agents from a gamut of agencies, including the FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; as well as Customs and Border Patrol and the Diplomatic Security Service.

In a written statement, ICE officials alleged that more than 200 of those detained had “significant criminal convictions or charges.” ICE did not offer any evidence to support the claim.

In its statement, ICE gave a brief sketch of the alleged criminal history of 14 of the people apprehended, without providing their names. The agency did not immediately respond to questions regarding the identities of the 370 detainees, or where they will be taken now that they’re in custody.

The agency has said it has a policy of not commenting about ongoing cases.

Homan said on social media that he had promised to go to Boston after reading about “numerous illegal alien child rapists walking the streets." He took shots at Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Gov. Maura Healey for “supporting sanctuary policies,” a reference to limits placed on local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in non-criminal cases.

Wu testified before Congress earlier this month about the city's policies on immigration and police — and its safety record — and had this to say about Homan: "Shame on him for lying about my city, for having the nerve to insult our police commissioner who has overseen the safest Boston's been in anyone's lifetime. Bring him here under oath and let's ask him some questions."

In Monday's X post, Homan recalled Wu's comment about him lying, then detailed how he came to Boston “as promised” to target the worst criminals.

Michael Krol, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New England, said in the statement that the joint operation demonstrates "a whole of government approach to protecting our communities from foreign nationals involved in transnational gangs, drug traffickers, child predators, violent criminals and dangerous individuals living in New England.”

Civil rights activists disputed the way ICE characterized its operation. Neenah Estrella-Luna of East Boston said it’s likely that many of the people apprehended have only minor criminal records.

"The overwhelming majority of the people are not criminals in that way," she said. "They're people who, at worst, they overstay their visa and — Oh, God forbid, they're painting people's homes."

Estrella-Luna said the size of the operation — and the fact that so many agencies joined to make it happen — represent an escalation by the White House.

She said some witnesses and video taken during the raids suggested officers may not have presented warrants, and many questions remain about the due process rights of those taken in.

"This is why we ask for the actual corroborating information, including things like judicially-signed warrants," she said, "because otherwise, the way that they are doing these raids, they have all the hallmarks of a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution."

Immigration advocates around the Boston area had documented a wave of federal police activity over the last week, in areas ranging from East Boston to New Bedford, Chelsea and Waltham.

"I've been in the United States for 40 years — never in my life have I seen what we're seeing now," said Lucy Pineda, head of the group United Latinos of Massachusetts in Everett, in Spanish.

Pineda said the presence of so many federal officers — often clad in military gear — reminded her of the 1980s civil war in her native El Salvador.

"We are living it here in the United States," she said. "We are reliving it again."

On Monday, Pineda said calm had returned to the streets of Everett.

In response to the raids, Mayor Michelle Wu repeated her claim that “Boston is the safest major city in the country, and we partner with all levels of law enforcement to prevent crime and hold perpetrators accountable."

Wu said she urges ICE to release information on all those detained.

Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state, and highlighted a recent visit by Massachusetts State Police to the White House to celebrate their role in arresting two dozen alleged gang members in Lawrence.

"Massachusetts isn’t just doing this public safety work — we are a model for it," Healey said in a statement. "We are ranked as one of the safest states in the country for a reason, and we are going to stay that way.”