Just days ago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) swept across the country, detaining dozens of undocumented immigrants accused of some of the most heinous crimes — including child rape, murder, and possession of child pornography. The operation, part of a broader push under Department of Homeland Security directives, underscores a sharp escalation in federal enforcement where local authorities have refused to honor ICE detainers. The arrests aren’t isolated incidents. They’re the latest chapter in a years-long battle between federal immigration policy and sanctuary jurisdictions — and the human cost is playing out in quiet New England towns, suburban neighborhoods, and rural communities alike.
Massachusetts Becomes Ground Zero for ICE’s Highest-Priority Targets
Four cases in Massachusetts alone reveal the pattern: illegal aliens arrested for violent crimes, released by local courts despite federal holds, then hunted down by ICE agents weeks later. On February 3, 2025, Eric Dionida German-Pena, a 30-year-old Dominican national who entered the U.S. illegally in September 2022, broke into the home of 65-year-old Ilias "Louie" Mavros in Lynn, Massachusetts, during a botched robbery. Mavros, a beloved local sub shop owner, was killed in the attack. German-Pena was arrested after police linked him to the scene — and ICE had already placed a detainer on him after his initial booking. But local authorities didn’t hold him. ICE agents tracked him down and arrested him days later. Earlier that year, in September 2024, ICE’s Boston Field Office moved on two Salvadoran men accused of raping children under 14 on Nantucket Island. Bryan Daniel Aldana-Arevalo, 28, was arraigned on July 26, 2024, released on bail three days later — even though ICE had flagged him. He was caught again on September 10. Elmer Sola, 32, met the same fate: charged on August 14, released, then arrested by ICE on September 10 after a warrant was issued. Both had entered the U.S. as "gotaways," a term used by agents for those who crossed the border without inspection. Then came Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas, 25, a Guatemalan national arrested in Lowell on charges of aggravated rape of a child. He’d been arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on September 4, 2024 — and despite the ICE detainer, local prosecutors let him go. It took ICE agents another 16 days to find him. The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, led by Marian T. Ryan, confirmed they followed state law in releasing him — but federal agents saw it as a dangerous loophole.Why Local Courts Are Ignoring ICE Detainers
This isn’t random. It’s policy. Dozens of cities and counties across the U.S. — including many in Massachusetts — have adopted "sanctuary" policies that prohibit local law enforcement from holding individuals beyond their release date solely because of an ICE detainer. These policies, often rooted in concerns about racial profiling and community trust, mean ICE agents must operate like detectives, tracking down people who’ve already been released into the public. In the case of Hernandez-Rodas, ICE had to wait until he showed up at a bus station in Lowell — a tip from a community member led them to him. "We’re not asking local police to be immigration officers," said Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Executive Director Hans von Spakovsky. "We’re asking them to follow federal law. When a judge releases someone who’s been charged with raping a child, and ICE says, ‘Hold him until we can take custody,’ that’s not overreach. That’s common sense." FAIR’s database, updated February 15, 2025, lists 1,168 serious crimes committed by undocumented immigrants between January 2024 and February 2025 — including 147 homicides, 212 sexual assaults, and 89 child pornography offenses. These numbers, sourced from court records and federal databases, are not estimates. They’re documented cases.MS-13, Funding, and the Legal Framework Behind the Raids
MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) remains a top target. The transnational gang, founded in Los Angeles by Salvadoran immigrants and now active in 46 states, has been linked to dozens of murders and drug trafficking operations in the Northeast. ICE’s recent arrests include at least three known MS-13 associates, though none of the four Massachusetts cases were formally tied to gang affiliation — yet. The legal backbone for these arrests comes from 8 U.S.C. § 1226, which allows federal agents to detain undocumented immigrants pending removal. But the real friction lies in jurisdiction. Local prosecutors argue they’re bound by state laws and constitutional protections. ICE counters that federal immigration law supersedes local policy — and that ignoring detainers endangers public safety. Funding backs this mission. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (2024-03-09), Congress allocated $8.4 billion to ICE for enforcement operations. The Boston Field Office reported a 22% spike in criminal alien arrests in FY2024 — 1,847 total, including 412 for violent crimes. That’s up from 1,511 in FY2023.What Happens Next? The Road to Deportation
All four individuals face removal proceedings under Section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Their cases will be heard by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Falls Church, Virginia — a system already backlogged by over 4 million pending cases. Many of these individuals will likely appeal, dragging out proceedings for years. But ICE says they’re not waiting. They’re building cases for expedited removal, especially when the crimes are severe. "We’re not arresting people for being undocumented," said Patrick J. Lechleitner, ICE Acting Director. "We’re arresting people for rape. For murder. For exploiting children. And if a local court lets them walk, we’ll find them. We have no choice."Who’s Really at Risk? The Broader Impact
The debate isn’t just about policy. It’s about trust. Immigrant advocates warn that aggressive enforcement scares victims of crime from reporting it. A mother who sees her husband arrested after a domestic dispute might never call 911 again. But families of victims — like the Mavros family in Lynn — say justice was delayed, not denied. In the end, this isn’t about ideology. It’s about a system that’s broken in places. When a judge releases a man accused of raping a child — and ICE has to play hide-and-seek to find him — something has gone wrong. The question isn’t whether ICE should act. It’s why local authorities keep letting them off the hook.Frequently Asked Questions
How many criminal aliens has ICE arrested in 2024–2025?
According to ICE data and FAIR’s database, over 1,800 criminal aliens were arrested by ICE’s Boston Field Office alone in fiscal year 2024, with 412 for violent crimes. Nationwide, FAIR documented 1,168 serious crimes — including 147 homicides and 212 sexual assaults — committed by undocumented immigrants between January 2024 and February 2025. These figures reflect only cases where charges were filed and confirmed by court records or federal reports.
Why do some local courts ignore ICE detainers?
Many jurisdictions, including parts of Massachusetts, have adopted sanctuary policies that prohibit holding individuals beyond their release date solely due to an ICE detainer, citing concerns over civil liberties and community trust. Courts argue they’re bound by state law and due process — but ICE maintains federal immigration law supersedes local policy, especially when the individual is accused of violent crimes.
What legal authority does ICE have to arrest someone already released by a state court?
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1226, ICE has the legal authority to detain any undocumented immigrant who has been charged with a serious crime, even if they’ve been released by state authorities. ICE agents can re-arrest them as long as they’re still in the U.S. and haven’t been granted legal status. The detainer is a request, not a command — but the underlying authority to detain remains federal.
Are these arrests tied to the Biden administration’s immigration policy?
Yes. The Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement priorities, updated in 2021, explicitly list individuals convicted of aggravated felonies, sexual offenses, and homicide as top removal priorities. ICE’s recent actions align with those guidelines — and are funded by the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which allocated $8.4 billion for enforcement. While the administration has reduced deportations for non-criminals, it has not scaled back operations against violent offenders.
What happens to these individuals after they’re arrested by ICE?
They’re transferred to federal detention and placed in removal proceedings through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Given the severity of their charges, many face expedited removal, though appeals can stretch proceedings for years. If ordered removed, they’re typically deported to their country of origin — but countries like El Salvador and Guatemala often delay issuing travel documents, creating further delays.
How does this affect communities in places like Lynn and Nantucket?
Families of victims say they feel vindicated, but also exhausted. The Mavros family in Lynn still grieves. Parents on Nantucket worry their children are unsafe. Meanwhile, immigrant communities fear increased raids and racial profiling. The real impact? Eroded trust — on both sides. Law enforcement struggles to balance public safety with community relations, and the political fallout continues to deepen divisions nationwide.
