# ICE Says It Arrested at Least 82 Illegal Aliens With Criminal Records in a Three-Day Massachusetts Operation

ICE's Boston office says the sweep netted people charged with child sexual assault material offenses, assault and extortion. Its director blamed sanctuary politicians. The agency's own announcement timing is unclear.

- Section: [Border & Security](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/border-security/)
- Published: 2026-10-26
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/ice-arrests-82-criminal-aliens-massachusetts-three-day-operation-sher-breitbart/

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says its officers arrested at least 82 people in the country illegally during a three-day targeted operation in Massachusetts, Breitbart Texas reports.

What ICE says. Enforcement and Removal Operations officers in Boston announced the results Sunday in a social media post. The agency says those arrested face or have faced charges including assault, battery of a child under 14, possession of child sexual assault material, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, indecent assault, extortion by threat of injury, strangulation or suffocation, drunk driving and larceny.

The politics. ICE Boston Field Office Director Joseph Sher criticized Massachusetts officials for what he called a "dumbfounding choice" to put dangerous criminals ahead of law-abiding residents. He singled out the state's "Protect Act," calling it "embarrassingly performative legislation." ICE added that "sanctuary cities are no longer a safe haven for the worst of the worst" under President Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Breitbart's frame. The outlet says the sweep shows continuing friction between federal immigration agents and sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation on detainers.

Note for readers: the numbers and charges come from ICE through Breitbart, and we have not seen the full list. Breitbart says the operation took place in the third week of September, though it also says ICE announced it Sunday, so the dates do not line up and we cannot say when the arrests happened. The article does not say how many of the 82 were convicted rather than charged.

## Source

Original reporting: [Breitbart Texas](https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/10/26/82-criminal-aliens-arrested-by-ice-in-sanctuary-massachusetts-in-3-day-operation/)