Michelle Wu criticizes ICE parking expansion while the Department of Homeland Security calls her actions unhinged.
The Department of Homeland Security has criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for her efforts to dissuade private property owners from leasing parking spaces to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While the city of Boston has banned ICE vehicles from municipal property, Michelle Wu issued an open letter urging garage owners to reject ICE staging facilities, which she described as an unprovoked escalation. In response, the administration announced that the actions of the sanctuary mayor are unhinged, noting that she lacks the authority to block federal agents from using private property. The Department of Homeland Security characterized her approach as an attempt to intimidate law-abiding citizens rather than focusing on getting criminal illegal immigrants off the streets. The administration also noted that Michelle Wu's Freedom of Information Act request for local responses to ICE indicates an admission that she has no authority over private land. The city of Boston has adopted an emergency resolution to oppose the proposed parking leases and minimize the increased ICE presence in the city.