BOSTON — Thomas Douglas Homan, the U.S. Border Czar appointed by President Donald Trump in November 2024, announced on social media that 370 undocumented immigrants were arrested in Boston and surrounding areas as part of a five-day operation led by multiple federal agencies that began last Tuesday.
Homan, who previously served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from 2017 to 2018, said the arrests targeted individuals considered significant criminals, including foreign fugitives wanted for murder, drug traffickers, and child sexual predators.
I made a promise at CPAC that I was going to Boston after reading about numerous illegal alien child rapists walking the streets of Boston and Massachusetts. ICE had to find and arrest these illegal alien rapists because Massachusetts and Boston are sanctuaries that refuse to…
— Thomas D. Homan (@RealTomHoman) March 24, 2025
The coordinated effort involved ICE, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Homan claimed the operation was necessary because Massachusetts’ sanctuary city policies prevented local authorities from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
“These incredible men and women arrested a total of 370 illegal aliens in Boston and surrounding areas,” Homan wrote. “A majority of the 370 being significant criminals…Governor Healey and Mayor Wu should be ashamed of supporting sanctuary policies.”
Homan argued that, due to local non-cooperation, officers were forced to make arrests on the streets rather than in jails, increasing the risks to both law enforcement and the public.
His announcement quickly ignited a heated debate online, with supporters praising the operation as a win for public safety, while critics condemned it as fear-mongering and politically motivated.
Social Media Reactions
The backlash to Homan’s post included sharp rebukes, with one user writing, “Stay out of Boston. We’re not big fans of Nazis around here.” Another described the operation as “fear-driven overreach,” arguing that sanctuary policies protect families, not criminals. “You are arresting (kidnapping) people who have a legal right to be here,” another critic claimed.
You are arresting (KIDNAPPING) people who have A LEGAL RIGHT TO BE HERE. DO YOU HAVR ALL THEIR NAMES? IF NOT, THIS IS JUST RACISM. They are being PHYSICALLY ABUSED. VERY FEW of these folks are illegal immigrants or criminals. Eventually you are going to answer for these ILLEGAL…
— RAD ❁ (@RADrebel43) March 24, 2025
Skepticism over the operation’s impact also emerged, with one user mocking the arrest numbers, commenting, “A whopping 370 people?”, followed by a string of laughing emojis.
Meanwhile, Homan’s supporters hailed the operation as a win for public safety, with some calling for similar crackdowns in other cities. “They should be thanking you for ‘cleaning’ that chaotic city!” one user wrote. Another expressed frustration with local leadership, stating, “Thank you for all you have done and your team. BUT Tom, you and your team are doing all hard work, but the real criminals are Governor Healey and Mayor Wu for not following E.O. of President Trump. When is DOJ going to arrest them? Because all your hard work and safety of the officers and Bostonians is for nothing. Let’s not make this happen. Accountability is needed to move forward.”
Another user quipped, “I’m not belittling any profession, but I’ve never seen a garbage collector have more pride or more fun doing his job than @RealTomHoman.”
Neither ICE nor local authorities have issued a formal statement confirming the details of the operation, including the specific locations of the arrests, the identities of those taken into custody, or whether any charges have been filed. It remains unclear how the operation was coordinated with local law enforcement, if at all, and whether additional actions will follow in the coming weeks.
