Operation Patriot: ICE Just Exposed the Dirty Secret Behind “Sanctuary” Policies

ICE just wrapped up the biggest operation in its history, and it happened right in the so-called progressive paradise of Massachusetts. It’s called Operation Patriot, and it resulted in the arrest of 1,461 illegal aliens, many of them with violent criminal histories. This wasn’t a quick sweep—it was a months-long collaboration involving ICE, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals, targeting illegal aliens in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and surrounding communities.

Of those arrested, 790 had serious criminal convictions or pending charges. We’re talking about people accused of drug trafficking, sexual assault, and murder. Not your average overstays. And 277 of them had already been ordered to leave the country but stayed anyway—because clearly, when it comes to immigration enforcement in Massachusetts, consequences are optional.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons didn’t sugarcoat it. He told reporters, “It really shocks me that officials all over Massachusetts would rather release sex offenders, fentanyl dealers, drug dealers, human traffickers, and child rapists back into the neighborhoods.” Honestly, same. It’s shocking, but at this point, not even surprising.

Lyons shared examples that should make every parent in Massachusetts furious. One child sex offender who was arrested had been released by local authorities and returned to living across the street from a playground. Another was a sex trafficker who raped a child and walked free. A third was a habitual drunk driver who kidnapped a child and was still let go. These are not “nonviolent offenders” or “asylum seekers.” These are predators, walking free under the protection of feel-good politics.

Before this, ICE’s largest operation had been Operation Tidal Wave in Florida, which led to 1,120 arrests. Operation Patriot surpassed that, exposing just how deep the problem runs in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions.

And yes, while Massachusetts doesn’t officially call itself a “sanctuary state,” that’s exactly how it operates. Under Governor Maura Healey, the state has implemented policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The result? A system that protects criminals—so long as they’re here illegally.

Acting ICE Field Office Director Patricia Hyde made it crystal clear: “When states and local jurisdictions don’t cooperate with ICE and they let bad actors walk out into the communities, they let child rapists just walk back out on $500 bail. That is sanctuary.”

She’s not wrong. Sanctuary doesn’t mean safety. It means putting ideology over innocent lives. And thanks to Operation Patriot, the truth is finally on full display.