by Despite Attorney General Pam Bondi’s request that the city rescind its sanctuary policy, Boston Mayor Michelle Wudelive offered a scathing rebuke to Bondi and the Trump administration on Tuesday, threatening legal action.
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Wu stated at a press conference outside City Hall that there is no room for silence in the face of persecution. The majority of the City Council, state legislators, police officers, activists, union members, leaders from surrounding communities, and Senator Ed Markey joined her.
Wu has been a steadfast opponent of the Trump administration, particularly when it comes to its attempts to politicize sanctuary laws that restrict collaboration between federal and local law enforcement. During a reelection campaign in a community that is generally anti-Trump, Wu organized a boisterous gathering that included an almost continual barrage of criticism of the federal government.
Last week, Bondi accused Wu of having sanctuary policies and practices that hinder federal immigration enforcement to the damage of American interests. This was the latest development in the conflict between Boston and the Trump administration. Bondi threatened to prosecute the city and demanded Wu to respond by Tuesday.
In her statements, Wu responded directly to Bondi.
Quit targeting our cities to cover up the shortcomings of your administration. Boston abides by the law, in contrast to the Trump administration. “And Boston will not compromise on our values and identity,” she added.
A request for comment Tuesday was not answered by the Department of Justice.
There is no accepted legal definition of sanctuary policies, however they are widely considered to be ones that forbid local law enforcement from disclosing specific information to federal immigration enforcement officers. Depending on who you ask, Massachusetts and Boston may or may not be considered actual sanctuary jurisdictions.
Bondi is trying to define what constitutes a sanctuary jurisdiction in her capacity as head of the DOJ. Federal officials named a number of states, counties, and towns that they claim have taken actions that materially impair the implementation of federal immigration laws and regulations in a list of criteria they published earlier this month. Along with Connecticut and Vermont, Boston was on the list. Wu forwarded the letter from Bondi to all of the jurisdictions on the DOJ’s list.
When Bondi publicized the letters on social media, she wrote, “Any sanctuary jurisdiction that continues to prioritize illegal aliens over U.S. citizens can either come to the table or see us in court.”
Wu described these federal government threats as grave and far-reaching. However, she responded with strong comments, highlighting the Trump administration’s inability to get past the controversy surrounding convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and Trump’s relationship with him.
“Good news on our economy has been as hard to find as the Epstein list under the Trump administration,” Wu said, adding that housing is more difficult to create, groceries are less affordable, and disease cures are farther off.
The Boston Trust Act, which was first passed in 2014 and revised in 2019, is probably the reason Boston was included on Bondi’s list of sanctuary jurisdictions. The Boston Police Department is only allowed to work with ICE on matters of great public safety significance, such as child exploitation and human trafficking, according to that ordinance.
Wu, one of the most outspoken supporters of the Trust Act, claims that it enhances public safety by ensuring that all citizens can report crimes to the BPD without fear of having their immigration status affected. In anticipation of Trump’s return to the White House, the City Council unanimously renewed its support for the ordinance last December.
The Wu administration started formally requesting information on individuals who were arrested by immigration authorities in Boston after the federal government significantly increased ICE activities in and near the city early this year. Early in June, federal officials stated that they would comply with that attempt.
However, Wu stated on Tuesday that her government has been waiting months for answers to Freedom of Information Act requests. Boston would submit a formal appeal, she added, demanding that ICE provide the needed paperwork. She added that if ICE doesn’t cooperate, the city is ready to pursue further legal action.
The latest changes coincide with the Trump administration’s ongoing misrepresentation of violent crime in major cities, such as Washington, D.C., as a reason to use the National Guard. According to the mayor, Wu administration members have examined legal challenges to the Trump administration filed by officials in Los Angeles and the nation’s capital.
We are creating community safety while you send troops to occupy American streets. Wu remarked, “Our police don’t have to hide their faces.”
The mayor has frequently criticized the federal agents’ face-covering technique, calling ICE operations “secret police tactics.” She has openly argued with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan and defended Police Commissioner Michael Cox against similar criticism.
Wu is vying for reelection against Josh Kraft, a wealthy philanthropist. However, it is very difficult to remove an incumbent mayor from office in Boston, and Wu is generally well-liked by the left-leaning voters in the city. According to recent polls, she has a clear lead over Kraft.
Trump supporters are giving Wu a recurring platform to appeal to her progressive constituency and possibly increase her prospects of winning a second term by continuously provoking her. This was particularly clear in March when she was called before Congress by Republican members to testify over Boston’s sanctuary policies.Due to her stern comments, Wu received a lot of appreciation and her name became more well-known across the country.
Speaking to the Trump administration on Tuesday, she stated that the cities that exist in your imagination are completely alien to the people who live in our cities. We’re picking up the pieces after you failed to fulfill your commitments.
Below is a copy of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s letter to Mayor Wu:
Letter from Bondi to WubyRoss Cristantiello
Since 2022, Ross Cristantiello has been a general assignment news correspondent for Boston.com, covering a variety of topics including as local politics, crime, and the environment.
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