By Tiffany Williams –
Promises made and promises fulfilled—this is the message from President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who boldly declared his intent to “bring hell” to Boston.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Homan recounted his arrival in Boston last Tuesday, marking the initiation of an extensive five-day operation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals, and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service.
During this operation, a coordinated effort between ICE and various federal law enforcement agencies resulted in the apprehension of 370 illegal aliens across Massachusetts. This targeted enforcement campaign, as outlined by ICE, was aimed at dismantling transnational organized crime rings, gang operations, and serious illegal alien offenders known to be active in and around Boston and throughout the state.
Among the unlawful organizations dismantled were the infamous MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street gangs. The related arrests revealed a troubling reality: 205 of those taken into custody had substantial criminal records, including significant charges or convictions. Alarmingly, six of these individuals were foreign fugitives, facing serious charges or convictions for heinous crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, organized crime, and money laundering.
The operation not only focused on arrests but also led to significant seizures. Law enforcement recovered approximately 44 kilograms of methamphetamines, 5 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, along with three firearms and ammunition linked to illegal alien offenders.
In a complicated legal landscape, Massachusetts has implemented controversial policies since 2017 that prevent local law enforcement agencies from detaining illegal migrants accused of crimes solely based on ICE detainers.
Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis, who manages the Worcester County Jail and House of Corrections in West Boylston, highlighted a troubling issue: his facility recently housed two inmates charged with child rape who were granted bail amounts as low as $500 in the past six months. The sheriff lamented that even with ICE detainers in place, he is unable to hold these individuals if ICE does not arrive promptly to take them.
Once receiving a significant volume of ICE detainers, the Worcester County Jail saw its numbers swell from approximately 30 ICE detainers a few years back to over 100 in 2024. Sheriff Evangelidis contends that this is a clear indication that more illegal immigrants are committing crimes in the commonwealth.
Among those apprehended during this enhanced enforcement operation are:
– A Dominican national who illegally re-entered the U.S. after removal and faced multiple drug distribution charges, arrested in Boston.
– A Dominican national, again illegally re-entered, charged with trafficking fentanyl, also detained in Boston.
– A Chilean individual convicted of four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old, arrested in Marlborough.
– A Brazilian national facing a litany of charges, including manslaughter and homicide by motor vehicle, arrested in Worcester.
– A Honduran national who illegally re-entered after removal, convicted of child rape, assault, and failure to register as a sex offender, arrested in Salem.
– A Brazilian wanted for murder and previously convicted of firearms trafficking in his home country, apprehended in Milford.
– A Brazilian individual sought for homicide in his homeland, arrested in Lowell.
– A Russian national charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and wanted for armed robbery and association with a criminal organization, arrested in Medford.
– A Dominican sought for homicide in his nation of origin, taken into custody in Dorchester.
– A Brazilian charged in his native country for failing to serve a sentence following homicide and illegal firearm possession convictions, arrested in Marlborough.
– A Salvadoran individual previously deported and documented as a member of the 18th Street gang, arrested in Wakefield after conviction for assault and battery.
– A Guatemalan national charged with rape and convicted of enticing a minor under 16, released by the New Bedford District Court despite an ICE detainer, apprehended later in New Bedford.
– A Jamaican individual, previously deported and convicted of multiple serious crimes, including armed robbery and drug possession, arrested in Pittsfield.
– A Brazilian wanted in his home country for drug trafficking and money laundering, arrested in West Yarmouth.
This enforcement operation underscores the complexities of immigration law enforcement and the ongoing challenges communities face concerning crime and public safety.