The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's actions to prevent businesses from leasing property to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), labeling her efforts as "unhinged" and akin to "hunting down" private property owners.
Following Boston's ban on ICE vehicles using city-owned parking lots, ICE issued a notice seeking to lease hundreds of parking spaces in the city for five years. In response, Mayor Wu, an opponent of the Trump administration's immigration policies, sent a letter to Boston's parking lot and garage owners. The letter informed owners about the city's submission of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking any local responses to ICE's inquiries.
DHS countered Wu's actions in an X post, stating that her efforts are "unhinged" and that she lacks the authority to prevent ICE from using private property. The agency accused Wu of attempting to intimidate citizens who cooperate with ICE, asserting that she prioritizes protecting undocumented immigrants over removing those in the country illegally.
ICE had previously released a "sources sought" notice for "surge parking" in 14 cities nationwide, including a request for 249 contiguous parking spaces in Boston.
Mayor Wu appealed to garage and lot owners to reject ICE's proposals, warning that securing such resources would be an "unprovoked and unwarranted escalation" posing risks to public safety and economic activity. She highlighted that Boston, along with six other Greater Boston cities, had implemented executive orders prohibiting ICE operations on municipal property and parking lots. Wu urged private owners to refuse ICE's requests, characterizing the agency's potential use of private lots as an "attack on the people of Boston."
In conjunction with her appeal, the city of Boston submitted a FOIA request to ICE for all submissions and responses related to the "Sources Sought Notice with Notice ID ‘DHS-ICE-SurgeParking.’"
DHS responded to the FOIA request by calling Wu a "pro-criminal illegal alien politician" on X. The agency stated that the FOIA request indicated Wu's acknowledgment that she cannot legally block ICE's use of private property. DHS further asserted that private citizens should be free to allow federal law enforcement onto their property without facing threats or coercion from the mayor.
The Boston City Council had previously passed an emergency resolution urging the city to "explore all avenues to oppose" the proposed ICE parking leases and to prevent an increased ICE presence in the city. The resolution called on the city to investigate all available options to block the leases.
ICE's notice indicated similar requests for significant numbers of parking spaces in metropolitan areas including Denver, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh.