Gov. Maura Healey continues to claim Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state as she doubled down on her criticism of ICE, launching into a rant against the agency, the White House and even individual ICE agents.
Healey went on a lengthy, profane rant against ICE, President Trump and Congressional Republicans while taking questions from the press after presenting her FY27 budget recommendation on Wednesday.
The Herald asked Healey if the Bay State is turning into a so-called sanctuary state — citing her increasing criticism and calls for ICE to leave Massachusetts, combined with Boston Police ignoring 100% of ICE detainer requests last year.
“Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state. I’ve said this time and time again. People can buy in and continue with the absolute bull**** rhetoric out of the Trump administration on this. You know they have no respect for cities and states. They don’t respect law enforcement because they’ve got this group of rogue individuals who I guess take in the bounty of $50K,” Healey said, before going on to call on ICE leadership and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to step down, citing the fatal ICE involved shootings that resulted in the death of nurse Alex Pretti and activist Renee Good.
“This is not normal,” the governor said. “This is a whole different thing and that’s why I said Kristi Noem has got to go, Greg Bovino has got to go. I think others have to go who have set this up to the tragic consequences that we’re seeing. Certainly Renee Good’s killing, Alex Pretti’s killing. But think about the devastation you know of so many families across this country who’ve seen their loved ones taken away. It’s hurting our economy, it’s hurting our businesses, it is hurting our national reputation.”
Trump told reporters Tuesday that he wants a “very honorable and honest investigation” into Pretti’s killing. He also said he didn’t feel that Pretti was acting as an assassin, but also criticized Pretti for bringing a gun to harass the agents as they were in the middle of an operation.
“I want to see the investigation, I’m going to be watching over it,” he said.
“I want to see it myself,” Trump said to reporters at the White House.
Meanwhile, House Democrats are continuing their push to impeach Noem, even without the support of Republicans — who currently control both the House and Senate.
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat in the House Judiciary Committee, says if Republican Chair Jim Jordan doesn’t start the impeachment process, then he will work with Democrats on the Homeland Security and Oversight Committee. Democrats say an impeachment inquiry should be launched into “all potential constitutional crimes committed by Secretary Noem.”
“Kristi Noem was a joke before she got there, and to know that she’s been in charge,” Healey said. “Greg Bovino, I mean, give me a break. Honestly, it’s cartoonish if it weren’t so goddamn deadly serious and tragic. And Americans need to speak up. I’m glad to see some Republicans speak up, we have got to rein this in. This is a dangerous place for our country to be.”
Attorney General Andrea Campbell also joined the bandwagon calling for impeaching Noem, posting to X on Monday that she has “stoked fear and chaos” into communities across the country.
“On Kristi Noem’s watch, Americans have been killed, children have been detained, and ICE has stoked fear and chaos in communities across the country. She must resign from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security. If she refuses to, I’m calling on Congress to impeach her,” said Campbell.
Healey’s words come amid a wave of harsh criticism of ICE and Trump’s immigration crackdown, with Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) in Minneapolis this week to conduct an official oversight tour. Moulton has also had harsh criticisms of ICE, Acting Director Todd Lyons, and Noem, calling them “cowards” in a video posted to X last week following Pretti’s shooting death.
“You pathetic little cowards who have to wear face masks because you are so damn scared couldn’t even effectively wrestle a guy to the ground, so you needed to shoot him,” Moulton said in the video. “Director Lyons who is running ICE right now, I hope you are hearing this from this Marine to you, you guys are criminal thugs, you need to be held accountable to the law if you think you can enforce it, and you need to be prosecuted, right now.”
Moulton, who’s running for Senate, has called for the prosecution of Lyons and ICE for months now, including a highly-publicized feud with Lyons following an oversight tour of the ICE facility in Burlington.
Congresswoman and Democratic “squad member” Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) is calling for the end of qualified immunity for ICE agents, posting to X Tuesday about a bill she’s filed with Sen. Ed Markey that would allow families of victims of ICE agents to sue the agents involved.
“There’s no ICE accountability without ending qualified immunity. They’re murdering people. There won’t be justice for the lives they’ve stolen, but there must be accountability. My bill with @SenMarkey would ensure families can sue the agents murdering their loved ones,” said Pressley.
On Beacon Hill, state Sen. Lydia Edwards (D-Third Suffolk) filed emergency legislation earlier this month that would ban ICE or any other federal agency from making arrests at Massachusetts courthouses, among other measures. That same week, self-described Democratic-Socialist state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven called on state lawmakers to “get ICE the f*** out of Massachusetts” in a profanity-laced video on Instagram.
On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus unveiled its consensus immigration priorities, including the PROTECT ACT (An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment). They say the bill includes critical protections for immigrant communities and “implements clear guidance to ensure due process rights are upheld for all.”
Trump has replaced Border Commander Greg Bovino with Border Czar Tom Homan to manage ground operations in Minnesota, with the president stating his intent to “de-escelate” tensions between ICE officers and civilians.
But on Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told reporters that the city would not enforce federal immigration law. The comments came just days after Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz reportedly had a “good” talk Monday with Trump on ways to reduce tensions and end the violence in Minneapolis. Trump hammered Frey in a post to Truth Social.
“Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, ‘Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws.’ This is after having had a very good conversation with him. Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!” Trump posted.
Healey closed out the Wednesday press conference saying the situation playing out in Minneapolis was created by the Trump administration, going on to question why an influx of agents have been seen in parts of Maine.
“Again, [the situation in] Minneapolis was instigated by the federal administration. There was no need for ICE to be there. Three-thousand agents to 600 total police officers between Minneapolis and St. Paul. They fled the same, similar numbers up to, in proportion up to Maine. Okay, what’s going on in Maine? I mean, it’s snowed, it’s cold, they’re playing some hockey. [What] the hell’s going in Maine that you need to do this? It’s just not right. It’s just not right,” said Healey.
“It is not about making our communities or states safe,” she said.
This all comes as a Minnesota U.S. District Court judge has summoned Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear before him on Friday, warning he may be held in contempt for allegedly defying court orders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.