Boston ICE Protest: 20 Arrests

Ahead of the "A Day Without Immigrants" rally, protesters descended on the Boston Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.

By Jason Claffey (Patch Staff) - April 24, 2017 11:54 pm ET




BOSTON, MA — Dozens of protesters descended on the federal immigration detention facility in Boston Monday, demanding an end to a series of immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration. Twenty protesters were arrested, according to the Cosecha Movement, which organized the protest and called it an act of civil disobedience. The group is planning a nationwide protest — "A Day Without Immigrants" — on May 1, encouraging all undocumented immigrants to miss work that day.

The group said it was protesting to "shut down" the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility at the Suffolk County House of Corrections on Bradston Street. Dozens of protesters could be seen blocking the entrance to the facility. A line of officers then moved in and several protesters were arrested.

The group said 20 people were arrested.

“While the realities of raids, repression, and deportations are nothing new for our people, they’ve reached an unbearable boiling point,” said Rodrigo Saavedra, a Cosecha organizer, in a statement. “The time has come for immigrants to transform the political weather."

Patch contacted the Suffolk County House of Corrections for information about those arrested.

Immigration raids and so-called "sanctuary cities" like Boston have become divisive issues. Last month, a Brockton lawmaker caused a controversy when she warned of a possible ICE raid in the Brockton area that never materialized. Days before, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said sanctuary city leaders should be arrested.

On Monday, ICE officials said they arrested 95 people in immigration raids in Houston, Texas.



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Movimiento Cosecha @CosechaMovement

Currently shutting down an ICE detention center here in Boston! We will not stand for deportations or separation of families. #ShutDownICE
9:57 AM - 24 Apr 2017



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Movimiento Cosecha @CosechaMovement

RIGHT NOW: 20 Cosecha allies are being arrested at the ICE detention center in Boston. #ShutDownICE#DayWithoutImmigrants
11:18 AM - 24 Apr 2017


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Bob Murdock @FOX25photog

Prtoestors blocking entrance of Suffolk County now being arrested. Protest against ICE holding immigrants.
11:17 AM - 24 Apr 2017


https://patch.com/massachusetts/bost...t-arrests-made