Border czar says he's 'bringing hell' to Boston over immigration policies
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Border czar Tom Homan. Photo: Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images
The White House's border czar once again singled out Boston over its treatment of immigrants, saying he'll be "bringing hell" to the city.
Why it matters: The fight between Boston and the feds illustrates the nation's divide over sanctuary city policies.
- Mayor Wu is one of three big city mayors expected to testify about the policies next month before a House panel.
The latest: Tom Homan blasted Boston police commissioner Michael Cox while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference for the department's refusal to honor civil detainer requests from federal immigration agents, per NBC News.
- Cox told the Boston Herald last week the police department's protocols follow state policies limiting how they work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Cox told the Boston Herald last week the police department's policies follow state laws restricting how they respond to civil detainer requests by federal immigration agents.
What they're saying: "You're not a police commissioner. Take that badge off your chest. Put it in a desk drawer because you became a politician," Homan said.
- "You forgot what it was like to be a cop."
The other side: Wu said in a BlueSky post that the city would "continue following & enforcing the laws to keep all Bostonians safe."
- "And it goes without saying that our police commissioner has my complete confidence & support."
Context: The spotlight on Boston has grown since President Trump won reelection in November, between Homan spatting with Wu and residents grappling with the federal changes to immigration policies.
- The latest announcement that the feds would rescind Haitians' eligibility for Temporary Protected Status by August stands to affect some 4,700 Haitian TPS holders in Massachusetts.
- Gourmet Kreyol, a Haitian food truck with two Boston restaurants in the works, wrote online, "Our communities deserve better."
- Wu said in a statement the city is working with the Haitian community to "discuss the best legal path to protect the program."
What we're watching: The next several months may affect whether the city loses federal funding for certain programs or is targeted by the Trump administration in other ways.
- It could also affect how safe immigrants across the Boston area feel, despite living in a self-described pro-immigrant city.