DHS SLAMS BOSTON COUNCILOR PEPEN FOR “SMEARS” AFTER ICE ARREST OF ACCUSED TRAFFICKER
BOSTON – A sharp political confrontation erupted this week between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Boston City Council member Enrique Pepén following the arrest of a foreign national in Roslindale Square. The dispute highlights the intensifying clash between federal immigration enforcement and Boston’s sanctuary city policies.
On February 5, officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Jose Perez-Antonio, a man federal authorities describe as a “serial criminal illegal alien.” According to DHS, Perez-Antonio faces multiple serious charges, including trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, as well as identity theft.
The operation, which took place in broad daylight near a Family Dollar store, drew immediate condemnation from Councilor Pepén. In a statement and subsequent video posted to social media, Pepén characterized the arrest as an “abduction,” claiming agents “abducted a neighbor right out of their car” and left the vehicle running in the middle of the street.
“To say that this is scary and not right is an understatement,” Pepén said, urging residents to report ICE sightings. “Make no mistake, these abductions do not make anyone safe.”
Federal Pushback
DHS officials responded aggressively to Pepén’s characterization, accusing the councilor of spreading misinformation and endangering public safety through local sanctuary policies.
“Boston City Council member Enrique Pepén needs to stop with the smears,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “ICE did NOT abduct anyone. We did arrest a criminal that this sanctuary politician and his policies RELEASED from their jails to terrorize more innocent Americans.”
Federal officials emphasized that the arrest was a targeted enforcement action against an individual with a significant criminal record, not a random sweep. They argue that local policies which limit cooperation with ICE—such as the Boston Trust Act—force federal agents to conduct arrests in public spaces because they are denied access to secure local jails.
Sanctuary Policy Debate
The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension over Boston’s immigration policies. Just days prior to the arrest, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed an executive order further tightening restrictions on city employees’ interaction with federal immigration officials. The order prohibits ICE from using city resources and requires local departments to prioritize “de-escalation.”
Boston’s Trust Act generally bars the Boston Police Department from detaining individuals solely on civil immigration detainers. According to recent city data, the Boston Police Department received 57 civil detainer requests from ICE last year but did not honor any of them, a practice that federal authorities claim releases dangerous individuals back into the community.
Local Response
Supporters of the city’s policies, including Pepén, argue that ICE’s presence undermines community trust and discourages immigrants from engaging with local police or seeking city services. Pepén defended his use of the term “abduction,” stating that the sudden removal of a resident without immediate public explanation creates “havoc and fear” in the neighborhood.
“The only smearing that I see is the way that ICE is treating our people,” Pepén rejoined, maintaining that his focus remains on “neighbors caring for neighbors.”
As of this week, Jose Perez-Antonio remains in federal custody. The incident stands as a flashpoint in the ongoing jurisdictional battle, with federal officials vowing to continue operations in non-cooperative jurisdictions to apprehend those they deem a threat to public safety.
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