- ICE agents arrested two travelers at Boston Logan Airport while attempting to depart after major summer events.
- Operation Patriot 2.0 has resulted in over 1,400 arrests across Massachusetts targeting individuals in sanctuary jurisdictions.
- The detainees include a DACA recipient and a visa overstayer, both now facing imminent deportation proceedings.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested two travelers at Boston’s Logan Airport on July 10 as they prepared to leave Massachusetts after attending major summer events.
Officers detained Maria Rosales, 32, and David Ricardo Ardila Valero, 33, separately at their departure gates. Their arrests came as federal authorities expanded enforcement in Massachusetts under Operation Patriot 2.0.
Rosales had attended a Noah Kahan concert at Fenway Park on July 8. Ardila had traveled to the area for the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco on July 9.
Free toolUSCIS Receipt Number DecoderBoth remain detained. Each faces imminent deportation proceedings.
The cases involve different immigration histories. Rosales is a Florida resident and DACA recipient. An immigration judge issued her removal order on June 28, 2017, and official commentary said she remained in the United States for over eight years in violation of that order.
Ardila is a Seattle-based disc jockey and Venezuelan national. ICE records say he entered the United States on a visa in May 2017 and overstayed for more than eight years.
The airport arrests followed two different paths through immigration enforcement
| Detainee | Background | Boston event | Immigration history | Current detention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Rosales, 32 | Florida resident; DACA recipient | Noah Kahan concert at Fenway Park, July 8 | Removal order issued June 28, 2017; remained in the country for over eight years in violation of it | ICE facility in Burlington, MA |
| David Ricardo Ardila Valero, 33 | Seattle-based disc jockey; Venezuelan national | FIFA World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium (Foxborough), July 9 | Entered on a visa in May 2017 and overstayed for more than eight years | Plymouth County Correctional Facility |
Rosales’ attorney argued that her DACA status should have protected her. Official statements instead treated the earlier removal order as controlling in the enforcement action.
The two detainees were taken to different Massachusetts facilities. Rosales is being held at an ICE facility in Burlington, MA, while Ardila is at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility.
A weeks-long operation has produced more than 1,400 Massachusetts arrests
The arrests formed part of a weeks-long surge focused on what federal authorities called “egregious illegal alien offenders” and people living in sanctuary jurisdictions such as Boston.
The operation has reportedly resulted in more than 1,400 arrests across Massachusetts. Federal authorities also increased their presence at transportation hubs after major events, including events connected to the 2026 World Cup.
Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons described the regional enforcement effort on May 8, 2026. He blamed sanctuary policies for what he called risks to public safety and urged local leaders to cooperate with federal enforcement.
“Patriot 2.0 exposed the grave consequences of sanctuary policies and the urgent need for local leaders to prioritize their constituents' safety over politics. Every illegal alien we arrested during the operation was breaking U.S. immigration law. Local politicians are responsible for protecting their constituents, so they need to step up and end irresponsible sanctuary policies.”
The enforcement campaign has sharpened conflict with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who have championed sanctuary policies. Federal officers have continued making arrests at airports and other transportation hubs.
Airport enforcement continued as vehicle stops paused nationwide
The Logan arrests occurred during the same week as a fatal shooting involving a federal agent during an enforcement action in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13, 2026.
The incident prompted a temporary nationwide pause on ICE vehicle stops. Airport and transportation-hub apprehensions continued.
DHS communications on July 18, 2026, urged people described by the department as unlawfully present to arrange their own departure through the CBP Home App.
"Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App."
Rosales and Ardila were arrested before boarding flights after separate Boston visits. Their cases now proceed from detention facilities in Massachusetts, with both facing imminent deportation proceedings.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
