The U.S. Donald Trump administration is reported to be preparing to launch a large-scale immigration crackdown in the Boston area soon. Boston is a stronghold for the Democratic Party.
On the 29th (local time), the U.S. political media Politico reported this by citing current and former administration officials. This plan includes a large deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. The timing of the crackdown is expected to be around the same time or later as the planned actions in Chicago next month.
Trump has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The Trump administration has had friction with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, over Boston's 'sanctuary city' policy, which limits cooperation with federal agencies in the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Justice recently sent letters to 32 sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Minister Pam Bondi pointed to Boston and Chicago as cities obstructing federal law enforcement in this letter, mentioning potential consequences for non-cooperating cities such as cuts in federal funding, deployment of federal law enforcement personnel, and possible prosecutions of local leaders. Both Boston and Chicago have mayors affiliated with the Democratic Party.
The Trump administration concentrated its crackdown on undocumented immigrants earlier this year in LA, a city that supports the Democratic Party, deploying armored vehicles among other measures. In response to strong local protests, Trump sent in the National Guard and Marines. There are predictions that both Chicago and Boston may begin their immigration crackdowns by deploying state troops.