Boston Ramps Up Coordinated Resistance to ICE Amid Crackdown Operations
Boston is mounting a coordinated resistance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid a heightened crackdown on immigrants. The operations, described as Patriot 2:0, began in September as a second wave following the initial Operation Patriot in May 2025. Between September 4 and 30, ICE claimed 1,400 arrests in the city, including 600 alleged violent offenders, supported by hiring nearly 10,000 officers throughout 2025.
The crackdown has included raids at traffic stops, supermarkets, courthouses, and local businesses such as an Allston car-wash, where nine workers from El Salvador and Guatemala were detained despite having no criminal records and some holding work papers. A city councillor characterized their arrest as equivalent to kidnapping.
Boston's community and political response has been described as a 'strategized resistance.' Local activists staged demonstrations on December 16 marked by colonial-era attire, including an event called the 'ICE Tea Party' where 342 pounds of ice were dumped into Boston Harbor to commemorate the 252nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. This event was organized by groups including Mass50501 and Boston Indivisible.
Sanctuary policies have found support from Mayor Michelle Wu, who has demanded transparency regarding ICE actions. Cambridge ceased working with contractor Flock Safety after the unauthorized installation of two ALPR cameras amid concerns data could be shared with federal agencies.
The Massachusetts LUCE network, consisting of 14 organizations and 4,000 volunteers, operates a hotline providing immigrant support that receives approximately 150 calls daily. It offers housing, transportation, groceries, and has raised over $70,000 for the 'Allston nine' fund, supporting those affected by recent raids.
Legal and financial assistance is further provided by local funds such as Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund. However, federal immigration policies have also caused disruptions, as seen on December 4 when about 21 immigrants were turned away from naturalization ceremonies at Faneuil Hall due to a federal pause affecting 19 high-risk countries following an Afghan national's shooting incident in Washington, DC.
Among those impacted is 19-year-old Babson College freshman Lucia López Belloza, who was arrested at Logan Airport on November 20 and deported to Honduras within 48 hours. Having left Honduras for asylum at age seven, she now voices her sense of loss regarding the American Dream.
