Federal immigration officials are calling out a major sanctuary city currently under a congressional investigation for ignoring their detainer request on an illegal migrant charged with rape.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended Jose Garcia-Salmeron, a 34-year-old Salvadoran national living unlawfully in the United States, in Boston earlier in January, according to an agency press release. Garcia-Salmeron was charged with rape by a local district court in July, but was released back into the community later that month, despite an immigration detainer lodged against him.
“Jose Garcia-Salmeron is charged with victimizing one of our Massachusetts residents and represents a significant threat to the safety of Massachusetts neighborhoods,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde stated. “We will not tolerate such threats to our neighbors.”
“ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by targeting, arresting, and removing any illegally present individuals who present such a threat to our New England communities,” Hyde continued.
The Salvadoran national unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2007 and had been ordered removed from an immigration judge later that year, according to ICE. He had not been encountered by immigration officials until his local arrest for rape in 2024.
The agency says its detainer for Garcia-Salmeron was ignored by the Chelsea District Court in Massachusetts and he was released back into the community on July 26. Deportation agents were able to make their own apprehension on Jan 22.
The ICE bust follows an announcement by House Republicans that they are launching an investigation into Boston for its sanctuary city policies.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Monday announced an investigation into New York City, Denver, Chicago and Boston for sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation between their local officials and federal immigration authorities, arguing these laws may have an impact on public safety. Committee Chairman James Comer requested each mayor to hand over relevant documentation and communication concerning these policies and requested them to speak before his committee.
Comer specifically referred to Boston’s Trust Act — which the city recently reaffirmed after President Donald Trump won re-election — and Mayor Michelle Wu’s own declaration after the presidential election that Boston was a sanctuary city.
Wu has not yet confirmed if she will testify before the Oversight Committee, with the mayor’s office stating Tuesday they are reviewing the letter and will “respond in due time.” The committee hearing will take place on Feb 11.
President Donald Trump, who pledged to conduct an unprecedented deportation operation, has overseen a dramatic increase in daily ICE arrests since assuming office.
In the past several days, ICE has repeatedly reported daily apprehensions topping 1,000. To put that figure into perspective, the Biden administration averaged roughly 310 daily ICE arrests in fiscal year 2024 and roughly 467 daily ICE arrests in fiscal year 2023.
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