Today the U.S. District Attorney for Massachusetts, Leah B. Foley, issued a statement warning state and local officials not to interfere with ICE agents. The statement, in its entirety, reads as follows:
The interference with ICE operations around Massachusetts has been disturbing, to say the least. This conduct poses significant public and officer safety risks. It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified. I will not stand idly by if any public official, public safety officer, organization or private citizen acts in a manner that criminally obstructs or impedes ICE operations. The United States Attorney’s Office, along with our federal partners, will investigate any violations of federal law and pursue charges that are warranted by such activity.
This is no idle threat. Just yesterday a federal grand jury indicted a Milwaukee county circuit judge for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE. And late last month Newton District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph was also indicted for allegedly thwarting an ICE arrest.