Gov. Healey on recent Massachusetts immigration arrests: 'I support the apprehension of criminals'
Federal immigration agents were seen Wednesday taking a man into custody in Chelsea, Massachusetts, as well as making other arrests in East Boston.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey addressed the arrests, saying she wouldn't be quick to call them "raids."
"I wouldn't describe them as raids," Healey said."What it seems to be, and what we expected and what I support, which is the apprehension of criminals in our communities."
Healey said she supports arresting criminals — whether they are undocumented or not.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is pushing back after President Donald Trump promised a crackdown on immigration.
Campbell is accusing the Trump administration of trying to force state and local officials to be used for federal immigration enforcement. She also says she is watching these arrests to make sure they're lawful.
"Yes, there is concern that there is the possibility they will round up people unlawfully, and that's where we will hold them accountable," Campbell said.
Healey said Massachusetts is not a so-called "sanctuary state"; however, some consider it one after a 2017 Supreme Judicial Court decision ruled state and local police cannot detain someone solely for immigration violations.
This was a decision that Healey, then attorney general, supported at the time.
"I still remain opposed on efforts to target large swaths of an undocumented population who've done nothing wrong other than they're here without lawful presence," Healey said.
WCVB reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment on the arrests and has not yet heard back.