ICE Arrests in Massachusetts Top 1,400, During Patriot 2.0 Operation

(MASSACHUSETTS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out one of the largest enforcement actions in state history, arresting 1,406 people during a multi-week sweep called Operation Patriot 2.0 between September 4 and September 30, 2025. The effort, concentrated across Massachusetts communities, focused on people ICE says are in the country without legal status, with a stated priority on those with criminal records or charges. ICE described the arrests as part of a broader push to remove individuals it views as threats to public safety amid ongoing tension with local officials over cooperation.

ICE officials said the targets included alleged murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex offenders, and members of violent transnational gangs. According to ICE, over 600 of those arrested had major criminal convictions or pending charges, and 277 had previously been ordered removed by the Department of Justice. The agency also criticized what it calls sanctuary-style policies in Massachusetts, arguing that local jails and police departments often release people back into the community instead of turning them over to federal custody.

Scope of the operation

ICE said Operation Patriot 2.0 took place across the state over several weeks and did not rely on local police cooperation. The agency claimed it had to track and arrest many people in the community because local departments declined to honor immigration detainers. Detainers are federal requests to hold a person in custody for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released so ICE can take custody.

For official background on detainers and how ICE uses them, see the agency’s guidance at ICE: Immigration Detainers.

Officials in Boston’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) office, including acting leaders Todd M. Lyons and David Wesling, framed the sweep as a public safety effort. They argued that when local agencies release people that ICE wants to interview or arrest, it forces federal officers to make more at-large arrests in neighborhoods and workplaces, which they say raises risks for officers and the public alike.

The agency said it prioritized people with criminal records and those with prior removal orders, but the operation also led to arrests of others who, according to ICE, had no lawful status.

This was the second major ICE action in the state in 2025. In May, ICE carried out another large operation that resulted in approximately 1,461 arrests, underscoring how federal enforcement has intensified in Massachusetts this year. While ICE did not publish a full list of charges tied to each September arrest, it said it targeted people accused or convicted of serious crimes. Advocates and some local officials have called for more public detail on the charges and the specific circumstances behind each arrest.

State and community response

Governor Maura Healey said Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state but explained that, under state law and court rulings, local police generally do not hold people after they post bail solely on the basis of an immigration detainer. That position reflects a long-running debate in the state:

• Federal civil immigration enforcement is a national responsibility.
• State and local police prioritize enforcing criminal law.
• Advocates for limited cooperation argue that civil detainers lack a judge’s warrant and holding people beyond release time may raise legal concerns.
• ICE argues that detainers are essential to transfer custody safely and avoid at-large arrests.

The operation sparked protests across Massachusetts, including outside ICE’s Burlington facility, where demonstrators opposed the sweep and broader federal policy. Community groups raised concerns about families being split and residents avoiding public services out of fear. They also urged ICE to release detailed arrest data so the public can see which cases involve serious crimes and which involve only immigration violations.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, large-scale ICE arrests often produce a chilling effect in immigrant communities:

• Parents reluctant to drive or take children to school
• Workers hesitant to show up on job sites
• Fewer people willing to serve as witnesses in local cases

ICE arrests during Operation Patriot 2.0 also prompted urgent questions from employers and schools about how to plan for sudden absences. Lawyers representing families said many clients will now face removal proceedings in immigration court, while those with prior removal orders may be moved more quickly if ICE acts on those orders.

Legal options and advice for affected families

People arrested who fear harm in their home countries may seek relief such as asylum or withholding of removal, but those options depend on case facts and legal deadlines. Families called legal hotlines and community organizations for help with child care, housing, and court preparation.

Key guidance from attorneys and legal service groups:

• Keep copies of all records (identity documents, court notices, immigration records).
• Attend every hearing; missed hearings can lead to in-absentia removal orders.
• Ask for interpreter services if needed.
• Track addresses tied to cases so court notices reach you.
• Seek qualified legal counsel quickly if you receive a notice to appear in immigration court.

VisaVerge.com reports legal service groups statewide are preparing for more intakes as court dockets grow. They warn that missed hearings are particularly dangerous for respondents and are hard to undo.

For ICE policy materials and official contact information, see agency pages and ERO resources. For detainer specifics, ICE’s guidance remains the main resource: ICE: Immigration Detainers.

Tensions between public safety and community trust

The arrests renew focus on the difficult line between public safety and community trust.

Supporters of the ICE operation say:

• Removing people accused or convicted of serious crimes keeps neighborhoods safer.

Critics counter that broad sweeps:

• Often include parents, workers, and long-term residents with old or minor offenses — or none at all.
• Cause fear and strain that extend beyond the stated targets.
• Reduce trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

Local police chiefs and sheriffs emphasized they must follow state law and court decisions on detainers and bail, and reiterated that their role is to enforce criminal statutes, not civil immigration rules. They note immigrant witnesses and victims are more likely to report crimes when they trust local police are not acting as immigration agents.

ICE replies that when local agencies release people wanted by the federal government, the burden shifts to federal teams, which then plan field operations that can touch entire neighborhoods.

What happens next

For families caught in the middle, the process can be confusing and fast-moving. Outcomes can include:

• Being held in federal custody
• Transfer to out-of-state facilities
• Release with monitoring while cases continue
• Bond hearings before an immigration judge for those eligible
• Faster removal for those with prior removal orders

Courts will handle the hundreds of individual stories behind the headline numbers. Advocates and local officials will press for transparency about who was arrested and why. ICE has said it will continue to pursue people it views as threats and, where the law allows, remove them.

Important takeaway: With more than 1,400 arrests in September and about 1,461 in May, 2025 stands out as a year of intense enforcement in Massachusetts. Whether more operations are planned was not disclosed, but the scale of Operation Patriot 2.0 indicates federal priorities remain focused on large field actions and custody transfers.

For official information on detainers and why ICE requests them from jails, visit: ICE: Immigration Detainers.