NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (TNND) — Federal immigration officials announced Thursday the arrest of an MS-13 gang member who was released by Massachusetts police despite an active immigration detention.
Detainee lawsuits filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ask local authorities to detain a migrant beyond their intended release date while ICE weighs deportation proceedings against them. Some cities purposefully choose to ignore these notifications, despite the service.
The gang member, Jose Luis Castro Jovel, entered the U.S. at an unknown date and time, ICE says. The 24-year-old was not inspected by Border Patrol agents. According to ICE, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered his removal in March 2023.
Northampton, Massachusetts police arrested Jovel in January for assault and battery on a family or household member. Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston, a division of ICE, said it had filed an immigration detention request in Northampton District Court. Despite this, Jovel was released in February, ICE claims.
Officers from ERO’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested Jovel on November 12 “on a public road”.
The arrest comes as several major Democratic leaders speak out against newly elected President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations. Former acting director of ICE Tom Homan is now charged with leading the effort after being selected as Trump’s border czar.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey addressed Trump’s plans in a call to “hold the line of democracy.”
“I think the key here is that every tool in the toolbox will be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and our states, and certainly to uphold democracy and the rule of law as a foundation. principle,” Governor Healey said on MSNBC earlier this month.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs Tuesday pushed back against the possible deportation plan and said she would not support such “misguided policies.”
“I will not tolerate misguided policies that don’t actually advance the critical work that’s happening here, that you’re seeing here today, that actually keeps our communities safe,” Governor Hobbs said during a news conference. “I will not tolerate terrorizing communities or threatening Arizonans.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently did too spoke out against Trump’s plans. He blasted Homan’s threat to flood sanctuary cities like his with ICE agents.
“This week I am very aware that we are one week away from the presidential election,” he said. “The outcome of the election is, to say the least, not the outcome we had hoped for.”
“We are going to defend the people of this city because his attack, let’s be very clear – the newly elected President, former President Trump, is not targeting just newcomers and undocumented families,” Mayor Johnson said. “His threats also target black families.”
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