Overview

• Filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, the lawsuit names the City of Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Police Department, and Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
• The Justice Department alleges Boston’s policy leads to the release of criminal noncitizens by refusing ICE detainers, arresting on civil warrants, or sharing release information under the 2014 law amended in 2019.
• Mayor Wu called the action unconstitutional and vowed to defend the ordinance, as recent court rulings have produced mixed outcomes for similar federal challenges and funding threats.
• The case is part of a coordinated national campaign against sanctuary jurisdictions that followed warning letters to more than 30 governments and parallel suits in Los Angeles, New York City, Denver, and New Jersey cities.
• ICE began an enforcement surge in Massachusetts dubbed Operation Patriot 2.0, drawing criticism from Gov. Maura Healey, as the legal fight proceeds in federal court.