ICE nabs another illegal immigrant in Mass. charged with child sex crime, as gov snubs Trump deportations

In a recent development, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended another illegal immigrant in Boston who was charged with child sex offenses. The Colombian national, Mateo Hincapie Cardona, was arrested by the Boston Police Department on charges of enticing a child under 16, distribution of obscene matter, and lascivious posing and exhibiting a child in the nude.

Despite ICE lodging a detainer requesting that Cardona be detained until they could take him into custody, local authorities released him from custody without honoring the detainer. This incident is just one of many where ICE has had to go after illegal immigrants released from local custody in the Boston area. While Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state, several cities within the state, including Boston, operate as sanctuary cities and do not honor ICE detainers.

This latest arrest comes on the heels of other similar cases where ICE has apprehended illegal immigrants charged with heinous crimes. Just last month, an illegal Salvadoran immigrant was arrested for sex crimes against a child in Nantucket. Additionally, a Brazilian national was arrested in Wakefield, Massachusetts, for assault to rape, indecent assault and battery, and domestic assault and battery.

The enforcement of sanctuary policies in Boston has made it challenging for ICE to carry out its duties effectively. These policies prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, making it difficult for ICE to apprehend and deport dangerous criminals residing in the country illegally.

With the impending Trump administration’s promise of mass deportation operations, tensions are running high in Massachusetts. Governor Maura Healey has stated that state police will not assist ICE agents in deportation operations. She has also hinted at potential legal action to push back against the administration’s immigration policies.

Despite Governor Healey’s stance on sanctuary policies, ICE officials in Boston remain critical of her approach. They believe that these policies protect criminals and endanger law enforcement officers, rather than safeguarding the residents of the communities they serve.

As the debate over immigration enforcement continues to unfold, it is clear that the issue remains a contentious and complex one. Balancing the need for public safety with concerns over civil liberties and due process will require a delicate and thoughtful approach from all stakeholders involved.