ICE “Operation Patriot” Descends on Massachusetts; Nearly 1,500 Illegal Aliens Arrested
June 12, 2025
Massachusetts has once again made a spectacle of itself with its statewide sanctuary policies. Across what Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey calls a “very safe state,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in a sweeping operation in May, including 790 with criminal histories.
Through “Operation Patriot” – reportedly its largest operation in history – ICE partnered with six other federal agencies to arrest 1,461 illegal aliens. Those six agencies included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Coast Guard. Over half of the aliens arrested were previously charged or convicted of crimes ranging from solicitation to commit murder to aggravated rape. Almost 20 percent of the aliens had outstanding removal orders from an immigration judge.
Operation Patriot aimed to combat transnational organized crime and serious criminal offenders, including members of foreign terrorist organizations and gangs in Massachusetts. This included known members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13. According to ICE, local authorities released many of the offenders instead of honoring detainer requests, forcing federal immigration authorities to make arrests themselves. An ICE press release stated all aliens arrested will remain in custody until their removal proceedings are completed.
https://www.fairus.org/blog/2025/06/12/ice-operation-patriot
