Over the past week, federal immigration officials have launched two big missions: one in Georgia focused on illegal employment, and another in Massachusetts aimed at tracking down illegal aliens with criminal records.
ICE officials now say the coordinated crackdowns are another push by the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws across the country, and to help protect American communities that have seen a surge in crime.
In Savannah, Georgia, nearly 500 people were detained after ICE agents executed a search warrant at a company suspected of hiring unauthorized workers. The investigation ultimately uncovered widespread use of fraudulent visas and other workplace violations, according to a follow-up report from ICE.
“We welcome all companies who want to invest in the U.S., and if they need to bring workers in for building or other projects, that’s fine — but they need to do it the legal way,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia Steven Schrank. “This operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable.”
One detainee, a Mexican national with a green card, was arrested after officials discovered that he had multiple convictions, including felony drug possession, theft, and an attempt to sell a stolen firearm, all crimes that made him deportable under federal law.
ICE said additional arrests and charges may follow as the investigation continues in Savannah.
In Massachusetts, ICE launched “Patriot 2.0,” a follow-up to an earlier immigration enforcement initiative aimed at apprehending violent offenders who are in the country illegally. According to Homeland Security, the operation focuses on “the worst of the worst” – including sex offenders, gang members, and convicted felons released by local authorities under sanctuary city policies.
Back in a June social media post, the DHS reported numbers from the first mission, saying, “Operation Patriot was one of the largest immigration enforcement operations EVER. Today, Massachusetts is safer with nearly 1,500 illegal aliens removed.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu pushed back, claiming that local police will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, according to CBS. Wu has accused ICE of targeting parents near schools and vowed to pursue legal action against what she described as unconstitutional tactics.
“As ordered in the Boston Trust Act, no Boston police or local resources will be co-opted into federal immigration enforcement and their mass deportation agenda,” Wu wrote in a statement.
However, the Justice Department recently filed a lawsuit against Boston, Wu, and Police Commissioner Michael Cox, arguing the city’s sanctuary policies themselves violate federal law.