BOSTON, MA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with multiple federal law enforcement agencies, arrested 370 illegal alien offenders across Massachusetts during a six-day enhanced enforcement operation targeting transnational gangs, violent criminals, and fugitive offenders, officials announced Monday.
The operation, conducted from March 18 to March 23, focused on removing foreign nationals with significant criminal histories or ties to organized crime. ICE officials said those arrested included members and associates of MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street gangs.
Key Points
- ICE arrested 370 illegal alien offenders during a six-day operation in Massachusetts.
- Arrestees included foreign fugitives, gang members, and individuals with violent and sexual offense convictions.
- Law enforcement seized narcotics, firearms, and ammunition while targeting high-threat criminal aliens.
“The Commonwealth is a safer place… because ICE and our federal law enforcement partners arrested hundreds of alien offenders and removed them from the streets,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston.
Of the 370 arrested, 205 had serious criminal convictions or active charges. Six were foreign fugitives wanted in their home countries for offenses including murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime participation. Among those arrested were individuals previously deported and charged again for violent or sex-related crimes after reentering the U.S. illegally.
ICE stated that local jurisdictions had previously declined to honor immigration detainers in some cases, forcing agents to carry out dangerous at-large arrests in public settings.
Authorities also seized 44 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, three firearms, and ammunition during the operation.
Partner agencies included the FBI, DEA, ATF, Customs and Border Protection, Diplomatic Security Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
“The successful outcome of this immigration enforcement operation demonstrates the dedication and collaboration of our law enforcement partners,” said ATF Boston Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson.