Homeland Security Responds to Boston Mayor’s Criticism of ICE Agents as 'Sickening'

Tensions have escalated between federal immigration authorities and the mayor of Boston, following comments made by Mayor Michelle Wu that compared ICE agents to members of a neo-Nazi group. The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday described the remarks as "sickening", intensifying an already heated debate over the presence and conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in cities like Boston.

The controversy ignited after a video surfaced in which Mayor Wu suggested that the masked appearance of ICE agents could be compared to that of NSC-131, a New England-based group identified as neo-Nazi extremists. Wu remarked, "I don't know of any police department that routinely wears masks. We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks. NSC-131 routinely wears masks."

Homeland Security fired back with a strongly worded statement posted to social media, declaring, "Mayor Wu comparing ICE agents to neo-Nazis is SICKENING." The department emphasized that ICE officers "clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by known and suspected gang members, murderers, and rapists." Officials underscored that masking is a measure for officer safety, not secrecy or intimidation.

Tensions over ICE operations are not new in Massachusetts, where local leaders and immigrant advocacy groups have often pushed back against federal immigration enforcement tactics. However, federal officials argue that recent rhetoric from politicians has had serious consequences. According to Homeland Security, "ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults," which they attribute in part to increased hostility stirred by political leaders' remarks. They warned, "Attacks and demonization of our brave law enforcement is WRONG."

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials and advocacy organizations have weighed in on the underlying issues. The Anti-Defamation League describes NSC-131 as a violent organization whose members "consider themselves soldiers at war with a hostile, Jewish-controlled system that is deliberately plotting the extinction of the White race." The comparison to ICE agents was thus received with particular alarm by many in law enforcement and beyond.

Mayor Wu has doubled down on her concerns about ICE activity in Boston, stating in a recent interview that "people are terrified for their lives and for their neighbors" and alleging instances of individuals "getting snatched off the street by secret police who are wearing masks, who can offer no justification for why certain people are being taken and then detained."

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons issued a direct response to Wu, saying, "These are real people with real families you're hurting with your ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments and it's time to remember that." He called for more responsible dialogue regarding the work and mission of ICE personnel.

Leah Foley, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, also entered the fray, releasing a video message explaining that federal agents mask their faces due to threats and harassment fueled by what she characterized as "false narratives." Foley said, "Federal agents and their children are being threatened, doxxed and assaulted. That is why they must hide their faces."

As the dispute continues, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Federal officials insist that public safety and the well-being of their officers require masking and operational discretion, while city officials and advocates maintain that more transparency and accountability are needed. The clash reflects broader national debates over immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and community trust in law enforcement.