Boston defies federal immigration authorities as Trump’s Border Czar threatens to bring “hell” to the city. Liberal city officials refuse to cooperate with ICE deportation efforts, even for alleged criminals, citing state law – while federal authorities warn of serious consequences.
At a Glance
- Boston officials, including City Councilwoman Sharon Durkan, are refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement
- Border Czar Tom Homan has threatened Boston leaders for releasing alleged criminals instead of honoring ICE detainers
- Massachusetts law prevents local police from holding illegal immigrants solely on federal immigration detainers
- Republican lawmakers have suggested cutting federal funding to cities that defy immigration enforcement
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is set to defend the city’s sanctuary policies before Congress
Border Czar Takes Aim at Boston
Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s Border Czar, has set his sights on Boston as the latest target in the administration’s crackdown on cities refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Homan delivered a stark warning during his recent CPAC speech to Boston officials who have openly defied Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests to detain illegal immigrants facing criminal charges.
Homan made it very clear that he wasn’t happy with Boston’s stance on immigration enforcement.
“You said you doubled down on not helping ICE officers, I’m coming to Boston, and I’m bringing hell with me,” Homan declared.
The city’s leadership are clearly on notice.
The confrontation escalated after Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox stated that immigration status is not relevant to public safety and that local police do not enforce federal immigration laws. This position directly contradicts the Trump administration’s push to have local authorities assist in identifying and detaining illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.
Local Officials Defy Federal Authority
Boston City Councilwoman Sharon Durkan exemplifies the defiant attitude of Boston’s leadership toward federal immigration enforcement. In response to Homan’s warnings, Durkan mockingly dismissed his credentials and authority. She took to social media to belittle Homan’s law enforcement background and defend Boston’s refusal to cooperate with ICE detainers.
“Laughable that someone who spent their career policing a town smaller than a Fenway Park crowd thinks they can lecture Boston on public safety,” Sharon Durkan said.
Do these people have any respect whatsoever for the American people, or American law?
Massachusetts officials cite a 2017 state Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Lunn v. Commonwealth that determined local law enforcement lacks legal authority to detain individuals solely based on federal immigration requests. This legal constraint has been used as justification for non-compliance with ICE detainers, even in cases involving serious criminal charges.
Republican lawmakers are also considering serious consequences for cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Kentucky GOP Rep. James Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, has suggested cutting federal funding to sanctuary cities like Boston. This threat comes as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu prepares to testify before Congress alongside mayors from other sanctuary cities.
“If they are going to continue to disobey the law, then I think we should cut as much of their federal funding as we can cut,” Kentucky GOP Rep. James Comer said.
The Trump administration has already taken legal action against other non-compliant jurisdictions, suing Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County for their sanctuary policies. Boston’s defiance puts it squarely in the crosshairs of similar federal action as the administration intensifies efforts to combat crime linked to illegal immigration in major cities.
Tom Homan is doing what Kamala Harris should have done, but failed to do for four whole years.
