ICE preparing for second 'surge' in arrests in Greater Boston

Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald on Apr 24, 2025

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ICE is coming back to Boston for more.

Todd Lyons, the acting director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the Herald Thursday the winter sweep of criminal illegal immigrants only scratched the surface.

“The last operation showed ICE needs to be in the commonwealth. The numbers are staggering,” he said.

The January sweep became a national story after a Haitian gang member taunted ICE officers while he was being arrested. “(Expletive) Trump, Biden forever!” the suspected gangbanger shouted at the camera. He also thanked former President Barack Obama.

Lyons, in Boston where he once headed up the regional ICE office, said he came to work closely with Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and other “federal partners” on preparing for a second crack at the “worst first” migrants.

He said the “surge” is being planned with DHS, the FBI and more with a focus on fentanyl traffickers.

“The drug is a weapon of mass destruction that’s found from Wellesley to Dorchester,” he said. “It’s causing a huge public safety concern. Why would you not want to take that threat out of the community?”

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