ICE, U.S. Attorney say 1,500 arrested in Mass. during immigration enforcement in May

Federal immigration officials said they arrested nearly 1,500 people in Massachusetts over the past month in what they called "Operation Patriot." Just over half of the people detained had been involved in what officials called "significant" crimes.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the enforcement surge "removed dangerous criminals" from Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Lawrence, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and several other communities.

He said some of those arrested had criminal records or charges related to drug trafficking, sex offenses, child abuse and murder. Some were fleeing charges in their home countries.

During a joint press conference at the federal courthouse in Boston on Monday, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said her office is prioritizing those who are in this country illegally and who pose a threat to the community.

"These are defendants who didn't simply cross a border, they crossed a line and jeopardize the safety of Massachusetts communities," Foley said.

The Field Office Director for ICE Boston, Patricia Hyde, said all 1,461 people arrested were in the country without proper legal status. Of that group, 790 had what she called "significant criminality," either in the U.S. or in their home countries. Later she clarified that those people had some sort of criminal record or had criminal cases pending. Hyde said 277 of those arrested have previously been ordered removed from the country.

"All made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Massachusetts," Hyde said.

Massachusetts has been a frequent target of the Trump administration, particularly when it comes to immigration. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was called to testify on Capitol Hill over how local law enforcement does, or does not, cooperate with federal immigration agents.

Massachusetts law dictates that state and local law enforcement cannot detain individuals based solely on their immigration status.

The federal officials on Monday referenced how law enforcement did not assist with the recent surge of immigration arrests.

"While we covet a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship with our state and local partners, we will work around them when it becomes necessary to ensure the safety and security of Massachusetts ICE," Hyde said.

The officials addressed questions about the weekend arrest and detention of an 18-year-old Milford High School student, who was picked up by ICE agents as he drove to volleyball practice. Marcelo Gomes Da Silva is being held at the ICE field office in Burlington.

"He was not the target of the investigation, but like we have repeatedly said, sanctuary policies put us in a position to go out into communities and look for people," Hyde said. "When jurisdictions don't cooperate with ICE ... then we must go out into the community. And when we go out into the community and we find others who are unlawfully here, we are going to arrest them. We've been completely transparent with that."

Lyons said they were looking for Gomes Da Silva's father, and had received information on him from local law enforcement. The teen was driving his father's car when he was detained, he said.

In response to a reporter asking why the teen was arrested if he's not dangerous, Lyons said: "I didn't say he was dangerous. I said he's in this country illegally. And we're not going to walk away from anybody."

Lyons said Gomes Da Silva would go before a judge to hear his case.

" ICE doesn't just scoop people off the street and remove them. Everyone gets due process, and that is what the U.S. Attorney's Office is for. That's what the immigration courts are for. They all do that. He will go in front of an immigration judge. He'll have the opportunity to post bond," Lyons said.

In recent weeks, members of the public and elected officials have criticized ICE for not being more transparent with their arrests. Communities have voiced concerns over due process for detainees and held protests.

James Covington, spokesperson for ICE Boston, said the office will not release the names of those arrested — for privacy reasons. However, they did bring a poster with faces of men who were arrested, and they described some of the individuals in a press release.

Outcry from bystanders who wanted to see a warrant during an arrest in Worcester last month led to an hours-long standoff with agents and local police.

During Monday's press conference, officials all warned that the public should not impede the work of federal agents in immigration enforcement. Foley said it's a felony to threaten or assault a federal agent.

" The law in this area is clear and I will not sit idly by and watch federal agents being threatened," she said.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley called the recent rise in immigration arrests part of a "systematic, coordinated" effort to rob residents of their sense of security."

This has nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with power and control and intimidation," she said.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has called the agents "secret police" and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton likened them to the Gestapo after a Tufts graduate student was picked up by plainclothes officers and not given access to a lawyer until she was multiple states away.

In response to a reporter's question at the end of the press conference, Lyons answered passionately that the reason his agents wear masks during arrests is to prevent them from getting doxxed.

"People are out there taking photos, and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves," Lyons described. "I'm sorry if people are offended by people wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers go out and put their lives on the line."

"Let me ask, is that the issue here? We're upset about the masks, or is anyone upset that ICE agents are labeled 'terrorists'?"

With additional reporting by WBUR's Miriam Wasser