Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey Continues to Spar With ICE

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is blaming what it calls "hateful rhetoric" for a substantial increase in assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Fox News Digital quoted Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin as saying, "This hateful rhetoric is contributing to political violence in our country and a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against our brave ICE law enforcement."

"DHS is calling on the media, leftist groups, and sanctuary politicians to end their demonizing of DHS law enforcement," McLaughlin said Wednesday.

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Maura Healey's Recent Comments on ICE

McLaughlin's remarks followed comments from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on Tuesday. Healey has been sparring with ICE and the Trump Administration for months over immigration enforcement.

Healey told reporters at the State House that ICE enforcement officers are "creating an incredible amount of fear and intimidation" in Boston, where DHS launched "Operation Patriot 2.0" several weeks ago, a follow-up to a sweep earlier this year that netted some 1,500 arrests.

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According to State House News Service, Healey claimed, "We saw just the other day, a 16-year-old with developmental disabilities picked up barefoot, taken away, and held in a facility. He was no public safety threat."

Milford Incident Explained by Assistant DHS Secretary

NBC 10 Boston reported the incident happened in Milford during what DHS said was a "targeted enforcement operation" aimed at "two illegal aliens" who fled from a vehicle on foot. The juvenile was unable to elude capture.

"ICE does NOT target juveniles or children," McLaughlin said. "ICE briefly detained a 16-year-old Brazilian illegal alien to determine his identity and if he was a potential safety threat, as is routine for all arrests."

McLaughlin said ICE agents were unaware of the individual's age when they detained him, and that he was released immediately after they learned he was a juvenile. ICE agents drove him home when his parents refused to come for him.

A week ago, Healey told NBC 10 Boston, the new ICE enforcement effort in Boston is "insane" and "not normal."

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Filed Under: boston, ice, immigration, Massachusetts, Maura Healey

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