Federal immigration officers in Lowell arrested eleven people working for a roofing company on Friday, but ICE decided to keep their identities under wraps. The operation targeted a Massachusetts-based roofing business, but ICE refused to disclose the name of the company or the individuals detained. Along with agents from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE cracked down on the business for its alleged unauthorized hiring practices.
The arrests didn’t stop in Lowell, as five more individuals were taken into custody by undercover ICE agents in East Boston. The operation in East Boston is still ongoing, according to a spokesperson for ICE, who cited officer safety as the reason for not providing further details. These recent crackdowns on immigrants in Lowell and East Boston are part of the larger surge of ICE arrests in Massachusetts, following the federal government’s focus on cities with sanctuary policies like Boston.
Amidst the chaos of these arrests, Governor Maura Healey addressed the immigration crackdown on Boston Public Radio, expressing concerns over the lack of due process in some cases. While she acknowledged the importance of law enforcement collaborating to combat criminal activities, Healey also criticized the disturbing and problematic actions of ICE across the country. The arrest of a Tufts University graduate student in Somerville, allegedly due to a pro-Palestinian op-ed, further fueled the debate around ICE’s methods and priorities. Despite these incidents, Healey clarified that Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state but emphasized the need for a fair and just approach to immigration enforcement.
