U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement partnered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in an investigation that led to the apprehension of 370 illegal aliens in Massachusetts.
The agencies said that during a six-day enhanced operation in March, federal law enforcement partners and ICE targeted criminal alien offenders, including transnational criminal organizations known to operate throughout Massachusetts, including MS-13, Tren De Aragua, Trinitarios and 18th Street gangs.
Officials said that of the offenders arrested, 205 had “significant” criminal convictions or charges. Additionally, six were foreign fugitives facing charges or convictions for murder, drug trafficking, organized crime and money laundering, the agencies said.
During the arrests, officers seized an estimated 44 kilograms of methamphetamines, 5 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, three firearms, and ammunition.
The apprehensions were made after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests to turn over the offenders, ICE and its partners said. The agencies said the local jurisdictions instead chose to release aliens from custody, which forced officers and agents to make at-large arrests in Massachusetts communities.
Assisting ICE and USCIS in the operation were the Boston offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.