By Ethan Caldwell 
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with federal partners including the FBI, DEA, and ATF, has successfully completed Operation Patriot, a month-long immigration enforcement initiative in Massachusetts. The operation, which concluded on Saturday, resulted in the detention of 1,461 individuals identified as being in the United States unlawfully, marking it as one of the largest ICE operations in recent history.
Led by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde, Operation Patriot targeted individuals across multiple Massachusetts communities, including Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lawrence, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Of those detained, 790 had criminal convictions or pending charges in the U.S. or abroad, including serious offenses such as murder, child rape, drug trafficking, and gang-related activities. Additionally, 277 individuals had final removal or deportation orders.
Among the notable arrests were a Salvadoran national previously convicted of child rape, who had illegally reentered the U.S. after a 2017 deportation and was apprehended living near a children’s playground, and a Colombian national facing charges for sexual assault of a child. A Dominican national with a drug trafficking conviction and pending charges for fentanyl distribution was also detained. These arrests underscore ICE’s focus on prioritizing public safety by removing individuals who pose significant threats to communities.
“Operation Patriot demonstrates ICE’s commitment to upholding immigration laws and protecting our neighborhoods,” said Acting Director Lyons during a press conference at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston. “We are targeting the worst of the worst—those who have committed heinous crimes and evade justice by exploiting sanctuary policies. Our work will continue to ensure the safety of Massachusetts residents.”
The operation faced challenges due to Massachusetts’ sanctuary policies, which Acting Director Lyons noted often prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, forcing federal agents to conduct operations in communities rather than taking custody of individuals directly from local jails. “If sanctuary cities would turn these violent criminal aliens over to us, we wouldn’t need to go into communities to do this,” Lyons stated, emphasizing that such policies can shield dangerous individuals.
The operation also drew attention following the detention of Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, an 18-year-old Milford High School student, on Saturday. Gomes, who has no criminal history, was apprehended during a traffic stop while driving his father’s vehicle. ICE clarified that Gomes was not the target of the investigation, which sought his father, who remains at large. In response to community outcry and protests in Milford, a federal judge ordered that Gomes remain in Massachusetts for at least 72 hours to ensure due process. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed outrage over the arrest, demanding transparency from ICE regarding Gomes’ detention.
ICE defended its actions, with Lyons stating, “When we encounter someone in the country illegally, we will take action. We’re doing the job ICE should have been doing all along—enforcing all immigration laws.” The agency also addressed criticism regarding agents’ use of masks during operations, with Lyons defending the practice as necessary for officer safety amid resistance from local activists.
Operation Patriot is set to continue in Massachusetts through June, with ICE vowing to maintain its focus on detaining individuals who pose public safety risks. “We’re going to keep coming back to keep our communities safe from these criminal aliens,” Lyons affirmed.
Andreas Lundberg