Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) said she supports “apprehension of criminals in our communities” when asked about recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in Massachusetts on Thursday.
The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement since taking power, sparking controversy in some states about whether certain arrests are lawful. Recently, the State Department confirmed that military cargo aircraft are flying illegal immigrants found at the southern border to Guatemala. Separately, ICE agents are conducting operations within the United States.
“I wouldn’t describe them as raids. What it seems to be is what we expected and what I support, which is the apprehension of criminals in our communities,” Healey told reporters.
Immigration officials were seen making arrests in Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts, on Wednesday. In Boston, there were no raids since the arrests were made one at a time.
Healey noted that she does not support immigration arrests of lawful citizens.
“Officials here follow the law,” she said.
The Massachusetts governor added that her state is not a sanctuary state, though there are laws in place that prevent law enforcement from holding undocumented immigrants after their criminal cases have concluded so federal immigration authorities can deport them.
Massachusetts is one of the top states in which incoming migrants to the U.S. live.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said Thursday that she would not allow unlawful arrests to take place in the state.
“Yes, there is concern that there is the possibility they will round up people unlawfully, and that’s where we will hold them accountable,” Campbell said.
The state’s largest city, Boston, considers itself a sanctuary city. Mayor Michelle Wu reinforced its status as one after the election.
“The last thing we want is for people who are part of our economy, part of our school system, part of our community, and the fabric of our city to feel that all of a sudden they have to retreat into the shadows,” Wu said in November.
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There have been concerns from Democrats that the Trump administration’s ICE is going too far during its pursuit to deport illegal immigrants.
Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka said ICE performed an “egregious” operation in his city without a warrant, and a military veteran who was detained “suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned.”