ICE agents blaming sanctuary cities for enabling criminals
Lawrence fentanyl bust leads to deportations
Federal ICE agents are slamming Bay State sanctuary cities for not cooperating in deportations and allowing dangerous criminals to strike again — including some just swept up in a major fentanyl bust in Lawrence.
“Not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement only poses a greater public safety risk,” said Todd Lyons, acting field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This path,” he told the Herald last night, “puts a community on a faster track of attracting criminal aliens who know they can victimize residents as well as the immigrant community with impunity.”
ICE said about a half-dozen of those arrested in a federal drug, firearm and illegal immigration sweep in Lawrence on Thursday are now being deported.
They include, according to ICE:
• A 57-year-old convicted Dominican drug dealer “local authorities” failed to hold on a detainer. He’s now locked up and being deported.
• A 44-year-old Ecuadorian cocaine dealer “local authorities” failed to keep locked up who is also now being kicked out.
Both were among the 50 arrested in the Lawrence drug sweep where authorities said they seized enough fentanyl to “kill half the state.” Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid.
Lawrence police Chief Roy Vasque scoffed at the accusation his city is thwarting deportations.
“It’s a bunch of rhetoric,” he said. “If they are doing something illegal, they are arrested by us.”
Vasque said suspects sent to court who have ICE detainers have that paperwork put in their folder. “Once they get to court,” he added, “it’s out of our hands.” He said his department works with “anybody who needs help” getting drugs off the streets.
Lyons said sanctuary cities need to see the bigger picture. “When states or municipalities establish themselves as a ‘sanctuary’ for immigration law violators,” the innocent suffer, he said.
Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Lawrence, Newton, Northampton and Amherst are all considered sanctuary cities where immigration detainers have been ignored.
Boston’s Trust Act — a de facto sanctuary city policy — forbids police from participating in immigration busts unless ICE has a criminal warrant.
Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu defended the act, arguing it allows immigrants to reach out for help.
“We want everyone to feel safe coming forward when they need help,” she said, adding those “in the shadows” shouldn’t be left to suffer.
The battle over illegal immigration — a major Trump administration initiative — is fueling this fire, Wu added.
Lyons stressed looking the other way can be equally perilous.
“If state and local leaders and elected officials are serious about combating the devastating opioid problem in the commonwealth,” he added, “they need to focus on all elements of the epidemic, including the illegal immigration aspect of the problem.”