Over half of those apprehended were criminal illegal aliens who had been charged or convicted of crimes.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headed Operation Patriot, a partnership with federal law enforcement, throughout the month of May that resulted in the arrest of 1,461 illegal aliens in Massachusetts. The operation was focused on transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious illegal alien offenders throughout that state.
“Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality,“ ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde. “They are criminal offenders who victimized innocent people and traumatized entire communities… Some were convicted of violent crimes in the United States, and others were wanted for criminality in their native countries. All made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Massachusetts.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Special Agent in Charge Michael Krol stated, “We are working diligently alongside our fellow law enforcement partners to make our communities safer through the arrest and ultimate removal of nearly 1,500 individuals who flouted the laws of our nation when they chose to remain here without legal status. Among those arrested include truly alarming criminals: murderers wanted in their home countries, child predators, and drug traffickers.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Acting Director Todd Lyons as he oversees U.S. Immigration and Customer Enforcement.
- For the special agents and regional directors of ICE and HSI as they collaborate to detain and arrest violent foreign criminals illegally residing in the U.S.
Sources: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
