BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey is demanding answers after ICE reportedly arrested a least a dozen individuals in New Bedford yesterday:
“We have been hearing from alarmed family members and advocates in New Bedford after ICE reportedly arrested at least a dozen people yesterday. Many of those arrested have lived here for many years and have families here. They were on their way to work at a fishing plant, supermarket and other key industries for the region. We’ve heard of one father who was arrested and has several children at home, including a one month old baby. We heard about an 8-year-old boy who was waiting for his father to pick him up from school, but he had been arrested. These stories are heartbreaking and their loved one have no answers.
“ICE needs to provide information immediately. Who have they arrested and why? Our administration will continue to provide support to the community and families, but ICE needs to answer for their actions.”
ICE was also reportedly seen in Fall River on Monday in the area of Market Basket, according to social media reports.
Healey has been sharply critical of ICE, arguing the agency is “not acting like a law enforcement agency,” that its tactics make Massachusetts less safe, and that it is detaining many people with no criminal record. She has called ICE’s methods “cruel and callous,” said the agency “needs to be stopped,” supported defunding it, signed the PROTECT Act to keep warrantless civil ICE arrests out of schools, hospitals, courthouses and similar sites, launched an ICE misconduct reporting portal, and opposed giving ICE confidential plates or extra parking in Boston.
DHS and ICE have pushed back, saying Massachusetts officials are “putting politics above public safety,” that sanctuary-style limits force a more visible federal presence, and that every person arrested in operations Healey cited was in the country illegally, with many having serious criminal records in the U.S. or abroad. ICE Boston has also highlighted arrests of people wanted for violent crimes and said critics of ICE enforcement are undermining federal immigration law.
