‘We now need to procure answers’: Healey slams ICE for lack of consciousness about arrests on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket

Addressing the Lack of Community Data: A Call for Transparency in Immigration Enforcement

Governor Maura Healey has publicly criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its lack of transparency following recent immigration enforcement actions on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The governor emphasized the urgent need for local authorities and community leaders to be kept informed about such operations, which currently occur without their knowledge or oversight.

On Tuesday, ICE, in coordination with federal agents, detained approximately 40 individuals. The agency issued a statement identifying these individuals as “non-citizen offenders,” mentioning that one was allegedly affiliated with the MS-13 gang and at least one was a registered sex offender. However, ICE did not disclose the identities of those detained nor provide detailed information about their criminal backgrounds, raising concerns about the transparency and fairness of these actions.

Local officials have expressed suspicion that the detainees were targeted based on profiling, with reports indicating that some individuals were stopped or pulled over without clear justification. This has sparked debates about the legality and ethics of such enforcement tactics, especially in tight-knit communities where residents feel their rights and safety are being compromised.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Healey admitted she had no prior knowledge of the operation, stating, “We currently have zero information.” She further explained, “Local police chiefs are in the dark about what’s happening in their communities. We, at the state level, are also in the dark, and that situation must change. We need answers and clarity from ICE.”

Healey described the situation as “challenging” to understand, especially as residents report being followed or scrutinized on their way to work. She highlighted concerns about due process and the adherence of ICE and other immigration authorities to legal protocols across different states.

“Questions have been raised about whether ICE and immigration officials are respecting legal procedures here and elsewhere,” Healey remarked. “It’s one thing to pursue individuals who have committed crimes unlawfully, but it’s another when families, including parents and children, are separated and taken away from their communities-sometimes right outside workplaces or homes. We need comprehensive answers.”

In 2017, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified that local and state law enforcement cannot detain individuals solely based on ICE detainers. Despite this, some political opponents, including former MBTA Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve and ex-Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, advocate for increased cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities, as reported by WBUR.

Healey, a seasoned attorney, expressed her willingness to work with law enforcement to apprehend individuals involved in serious crimes. However, she emphasized that recent ICE operations in Massachusetts have raised significant concerns about procedural fairness and community safety.

“The fear and uncertainty these raids generate are unnecessary and harmful,” she stated. “Communities should not live in constant apprehension over immigration enforcement actions that seem to lack transparency or proper legal process.”

Dialynn Dwyer

Dialynn Dwyer is a dedicated journalist and editor at Boston.com, specializing in breaking news and local stories across Boston and New England.