Boston’s streets just got a wake-up call. According to Fox News, Operation Patriot, the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweep ever, rounded up 1,461 unauthorized migrants in Massachusetts, targeting sanctuary cities that shield criminals. It’s a bold move that’s got progressives clutching their pearls.

In May, ICE, backed by the FBI, DEA, and ATF, arrested 790 migrants with criminal records and 277 with deportation orders in Greater Boston and beyond. The operation, ending Saturday, dwarfed Florida’s Operation Tidal Wave, which nabbed 1,120. Sanctuary policies made this one tougher, but ICE pushed through.

Massachusetts’ refusal to honor ICE detainers set the stage. Hundreds of those arrested had been released by local authorities, ignoring federal requests to hold them. Turns out, actions have consequences.

Targeting Serious Offenders

Fox News rode along with ICE Boston on Thursday, witnessing arrests of a murderer, a fentanyl trafficker, and multiple sex offenders. One, a Salvadoran deported in 2017 for child rape, was caught living by a playground. That’s the kind of neighbor nobody wants.

Another, an El Salvadoran on Interpol’s Red Notice for murder and kidnapping, was nabbed. These aren’t just paperwork violations; they’re predators. ICE’s focus was clear: get the worst off the streets.

But sanctuary jurisdictions didn’t roll out the welcome mat. Local authorities stonewalled, and anti-ICE activists interfered daily. It’s almost like they forgot who keeps communities safe.

Local Resistance Sparks Debate

Gov. Maura Healey threw a fit Sunday, calling the arrest of 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes, a Milford High School junior, “outrageous.” “The Trump Administration continues to create fear,” she said. Fear for whom—law-abiding citizens or convicted felons?

Her outrage feels selective when you consider the rap sheets. A child rapist tied up his victim, arraigned Monday, while Healey defends sanctuary policies. Compassion’s great, but not when it’s reckless.

Jon Fetherston, ex-Massachusetts migrant shelter director, nailed it: “That’s not compassion — it’s recklessness.” He warned of a “climate of lawlessness” where criminals are shielded. Hard to argue when playgrounds become hunting grounds.

ICE Stands Firm

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons didn’t mince words Monday. “If sanctuary cities would change their policies and turn these violent criminal aliens over to us, we wouldn’t have to go out to the communities,” he said. Translation: cooperate, and we’ll all sleep better.

Lyons doubled down: “We’re going to keep coming back because ICE is going to make sure we keep our community safe.” It’s a promise that resonates when you’re arresting child predators. Sanctuary cities might want to take notes.

The operation’s scale was unprecedented, pulling in agents from across the Northeast. Massachusetts’s sanctuary stance forced ICE to play hardball, and they delivered. Critics might cry foul, but results speak louder.

A Wake-Up Call

Fetherston called it “unsafe for all of us,” and he’s not wrong. Shielding criminals doesn’t just endanger ICE agents; it risks every community. When a child rapist lives next to a swing set, priorities need a reality check.

Operation Patriot exposed the cost of sanctuary policies. By ignoring ICE detainers, Massachusetts let hundreds of convicted criminals roam free. That’s not progressive; it’s a public safety failure.

The controversy isn’t going away. Healey’s outrage and Lyons’ resolve show a divide that’s only deepening. But when the dust settles, one thing’s clear: ICE isn’t backing down, and neither should common sense.