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In a sweeping crackdown, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the conclusion of Operation Patriot, which arrested 1,461 illegal immigrants across Massachusetts, a state known for its sanctuary city policies. This operation, the largest in ICE's history, targeted various violent criminals, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, and child sex predators.

Sources from ICE revealed that the operation, which wrapped up on Saturday, took place throughout the month of May. It spanned the Greater Boston area and several sanctuary jurisdictions within the state. Out of those captured, 790 had existing criminal convictions or charges, while 277 had final deportation orders standing against them. These individuals had reportedly been living freely until their arrests.

Operation Patriot required collaboration from multiple federal agencies to achieve such broad results. Teams from the FBI, DEA, and ATF joined ICE in this extensive endeavor. Despite the scope and complexity, ICE officials called it a necessary response to Massachusetts leaders' refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

The operation's significance was evident as Fox News, embedded alongside ICE agents last Thursday, documented the capture of highly dangerous individuals. These included a murderer, child rapists, an adult rapist, and a fentanyl trafficker, all detained within only a few hours.

Operation Patriot faced considerable challenges, partly because of minimal local assistance from sanctuary cities, contrasting strongly with previous operations such as Operation Tidal Wave in Florida, which led to 1,120 arrests. ICE officials disclosed that many targets had been released from local custody despite ICE detainers, compounding the difficulty of their tasks.

Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey expressed significant disapproval of the operation. Over the weekend, Healey voiced her anger, particularly about the arrest of Marcelo Gomes, an 18-year-old illegal immigrant and high school junior. Through social media, Healey demanded an immediate explanation for Gomes' detention, arguing that such actions by the Trump Administration are fostering fear and reducing public safety.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons pointed to the resistance from local leaders in Massachusetts as a primary obstacle. Lyons remarked that if sanctuary cities would transfer dangerous criminal aliens to ICE custody instead of releasing them, such extensive operations wouldn’t be necessary. He stated that ICE will persist in its mission to uphold community safety and deter criminal activity.

The operation also coincided with the troubling arraignment of Lorenzo Lopez Alcario, an illegal immigrant accused of violently raping a child. According to charges reviewed by Fox News Digital, the child had been tied during the assault.

Commenting on these developments, Jon Fetherston, a former migrant shelter director in Massachusetts, criticized Governor Healey’s stance against federal enforcement. Fetherston argued that such policies jeopardize the safety of both ICE agents and the general public, creating a lawless environment where even convicted criminals receive protection from federal actions.

Governor Healey's office has yet to respond to these criticisms or provide further comments on the operation's outcomes.