ICE Boston announced in a press release that over 1,400 illegal immigrants were arrested during Operation Patriot 2.0, a month-long effort targeting violent criminals, including murderers, rapists, child predators, drug traffickers, and gang members across Massachusetts.
According to the official ICE press release, Operation Patriot 2.0 was a coordinated effort led by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England. The operation received assistance from several federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts. Conducted between September 4 and September 30, 2025, the operation resulted in 1,406 arrests statewide. Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said the operation “exposed the grave consequences of sanctuary policies” and emphasized that hundreds of those arrested were violent criminal offenders who should never have been released back into local communities.
According to the Boston Herald, more than 600 individuals arrested during Operation Patriot 2.0 had serious criminal convictions or pending charges in the United States. Additionally, 277 had been previously ordered removed by immigration judges but defied those orders. Among those taken into custody were known members and associates of gangs such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, 18th Street, and Trinitarios. ICE officials also confirmed that several arrested offenders were international fugitives; this included three known or suspected terrorists with active foreign warrants and Interpol Red Notices.
The Department of Homeland Security’s FY2025 Immigration Enforcement Report indicates that Operation Patriot 2.0 represents one of the largest mass enforcement efforts in New England in more than a decade. DHS reported that ERO Boston’s field area saw a 38% year-over-year increase in criminal alien arrests. This reflects strengthened coordination between ICE and federal partners despite sanctuary policy obstacles. The report also found that over 70% of those apprehended during the operation had felony convictions or were pending trial for violent crimes.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s official website for ERO Boston, this office is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws throughout Massachusetts and surrounding New England states. Under the leadership of Acting Field Office Director David Wesling, ERO Boston identifies noncitizens who pose threats to public safety or violate U.S. immigration law for apprehension and removal.
