Boston Mayor Michelle Wu easily advanced from Tuesday's preliminary to a November runoff as the city's municipal contest narrowed the field to two, a result that leaves her likely to face philanthropist Josh Kraft in the general election.
Wu, who is seeking a second four-year term and is the first woman and person of color elected mayor of Boston, clinched the lead in a Democrat-dominated city even as federal immigration authorities intensified enforcement in Massachusetts and the Justice Department pursued legal action against city officials.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched "Patriot 2.0" to "target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens living in the state of Massachusetts, following the success of Operation Patriot in May." A DHS statement argued that sanctuary policies "attract and harbor criminals" and said ICE was arresting sex offenders, pedophiles, murderers, drug dealers and gang members who had been released by local authorities.
The latest enforcement action follows a Justice Department lawsuit that names Boston city officials, including the mayor, alleging they interfered with federal immigration enforcement. The suit seeks to compel cooperation from local authorities in detaining and turning over individuals for federal immigration proceedings.
Wu pushed back against federal critics in remarks Monday and in a statement that accused the administration of mischaracterizing the city's policies. "They are wrong on the law, and they are wrong on safety," she said, asserting that Boston would continue to uphold the state-level Boston Trust Act and resist what she called mass deportation efforts by the federal government. Wu said reports that ICE agents had taken parents as they dropped off children at school have raised concerns about the agency's tactics and public safety.
The Boston Trust Act, enacted by the state, limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities by preventing police from handing people over to ICE without a criminal warrant, city officials said. Wu and other city leaders have argued that those limits protect community trust and public safety by encouraging immigrant residents to report crimes and engage with police.
Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, was widely expected to secure the second spot on the November ballot after facing three challengers in the preliminary. The preliminary election narrows the nonpartisan mayoral contest to two finalists, who will face off in November when turnout is typically higher and the race draws greater attention.
The confrontation between city and federal officials in Boston is the latest flashpoint in a broader national debate over sanctuary policies and local cooperation with immigration enforcement. Federal officials have in recent months sought to press localities to detain and transfer noncitizens suspected of violating immigration laws, while many city leaders argue that such cooperation undermines public safety and violates state statutes.
With the November general election set, Boston voters will decide whether to extend Wu's tenure amid the ongoing legal and political conflict with federal authorities. The Justice Department's lawsuit and ICE's enhanced enforcement plan are likely to remain central issues in the campaign as both sides prepare for further legal and political battles.
