On Sept. 6, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began an operation called Operation Patriot 2.0 in Massachusetts, centered on the Boston area; officials said the enforcement activity is expected to run for several weeks and targets immigrants released from custody despite immigration detainers.
Key Takeaways
- ICE has started Operation Patriot 2.0 in the Boston region, officials said, with activity beginning late this week.
- The operation is expected to continue for several weeks and may reach communities outside Boston.
- Sources say the initiative focuses on immigrants who were released from local custody despite ICE detainer requests.
- The move comes as the administration signals a broader crackdown on sanctuary cities, including an anticipated surge in Chicago and rising arrests in Washington.
- ICE has already conducted sizeable rounds of arrests in Massachusetts earlier this year: 370 in March (including 165 collateral arrests) and nearly 1,500 in May.
- The Justice Department has sued Boston over its Boston Trust Act, escalating legal pressure on the city’s sanctuary policies.
- City leaders, including Mayor Michelle Wu, have publicly opposed federal tactics, arguing they undermine community safety and trust.
Verified Facts
Two sources with direct knowledge of the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the initiative began late this week and is being called Operation Patriot 2.0. Sources described the effort as lasting several weeks and said federal agents are concentrating activity in and around the Boston metropolitan area.
Officials described targeting individuals whom local jails had released despite ICE detainer requests. Because some of those individuals live outside Boston proper, sources said the operation’s geographic reach extends beyond city limits.
ICE has increased enforcement activity in Massachusetts earlier in 2025: in March the agency arrested 370 people in the state, including 165 collateral arrests — people not specifically targeted but encountered during operations — and in May nearly 1,500 arrests were reported.
Senior administration figures have publicly signaled tougher action on sanctuary jurisdictions. Nationally, ICE and Department of Homeland Security leaders have discussed plans for stepped-up enforcement in several cities this month, according to a U.S. official who spoke off the record.
Context & Impact
The operation is taking place amid heightened federal pressure on so-called sanctuary cities, which restrict local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Justice Department’s recent lawsuit against Boston over the Boston Trust Act is part of that legal campaign.
Local officials have warned that increased immigration raids can erode trust between immigrant communities and local police, making residents less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations. City leaders also say such operations can disrupt families, schools and workplaces.
Potential impacts include short-term increases in community fear and longer-term legal battles between municipal governments and federal agencies. Law enforcement coordination, service providers and legal aid groups are likely to see higher demand for guidance and support.
Possible local effects
- Higher demand for legal assistance and immigrant support services
- Increased tension between city leadership and federal agencies
- Short-term disruptions for families and workplaces where arrests occur
Official Statements
The Justice Department described Boston’s policies as undermining law enforcement and said it would seek judicial relief.
Attorney General Pam Bondi (department statement)
Boston officials have said federal tactics of expanded enforcement run counter to local strategies for public safety and community trust.
Mayor Michelle Wu (public remarks)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Operation Patriot 2.0 will be expanded into a sustained nationwide surge beyond reported plans.
- The precise number of agents or full list of municipalities to be targeted in the current operation.
- Operational end date; sources estimate several weeks but no formal timeline has been released.
Bottom Line
Federal authorities have deployed Operation Patriot 2.0 to the Boston area as part of a broader push on sanctuary jurisdictions. Expect continued legal and political friction between city officials and federal agencies, rising demand for immigrant legal services, and close attention to further enforcement activity in other major cities.