ICE to ‘flood the zone’ in Boston in response to Mayor Wu’s pro-sanctuary city stance

Bold claims and mariachi music bookended a statement about “ICE presence” in Massachusetts that suggested “Boston about to FAFO.”

As President Donald Trump’s administration has taken actions on restoring national sovereignty and fulfilling promises of law and order, leftist elected officials have dug in their heels, often vowing obstruction of federal immigration enforcement efforts. Now, after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) had defended her city’s so-called sanctuary status, acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons responded with intent to “flood the zone.”

(Video Credit: WCVB)

Speaking Wednesday on “The Howie Carr Show,” the day after Wu’s mariachi press conference found her openly opposing a warning from Attorney General Pam Bondi, Lyons stated when asked about the potential of a surge, “We’re definitely going to, as you’ve heard the saying, flood the zone, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions.”

“Obviously Boston and Massachusetts decided … that they wanted to stay sanctuary … So 100%, you’re going to see more ICE presence,” he’d said as he also addressed more than 1,000 arrests in Massachusetts in March during Operation Patriot. “You’re going to see more ICE agents come to Boston to make sure we take these public safety threats out that she wants to let go back in the community.”

Wu’s office responded to a request for comment by NBC News by directing the outlet to remarks made Thursday while claiming Beantown was the “safest major city in the country.”

“This is a beautiful, diverse, incredible city, and I have said it now very directly: This administration needs to stop attacking cities to hide their own failures,” the mayor told the press as she also said, “I don’t need to speculate in hypotheticals. I am not sure what those words actually mean in terms of actions that are within the bounds and the parameters of the law. We already follow the law. We already work every single day to ensure that people who commit crimes and harm in our communities are held accountable, regardless of immigration status.”

Earlier in the week, Wu had aimed remarks directly at Bondi when she said, “The U.S. Attorney General asked for a response by today. So here it is, here is our response. Stop attacking our cities to hide your administration’s failures.”

“Unlike the Trump administration,” she claimed, “Boston follows the law. And Boston will not back down from who we are and what we stand for.”

As part of 35 so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, Wu had been notified by the AG’s office the week prior that Boston had been “identified as one that engages sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States.”

“This ends now,” the nation’s top cop had asserted.

Reactions on social media found a considerable number eager to see what would happen to Wu and other elected officials like her for seeming to selectively uphold laws while blatantly ignoring others.

Good. I don’t know who these @TheDemocrats think they are. Their oath is to uphold our laws. All of them. Not just the ones they agree with. They should be stripped of their office at the very least.

— Mattox Mcmurdo (@MattoxMcmurdo) August 22, 2025

Yes, I voted for that! Deport them all!

— Exposer of Donkey Fazoo (@Ionoclast50) August 23, 2025

Good. Deport them all and arrest Wu

— Charting Wealth (@ChartingFor) August 22, 2025

By “threaten” you mean “promise to do their jobs.”

— David Willford (@Dave_Willford) August 22, 2025

Um, I don’t think that was a ‘threat,’ I’m reasonably certain it was an as-yet unfulfilled promise!

— Hart Celler (@8USC12) August 22, 2025

Some of worst criminal illegals have been located in Boston. It’s sad the Mayor cares more about protecting them instead of her own constituents.

— NevadanforLife (@nevadanfor) August 21, 2025

FAFO Boston Edition

— The Right Insight (@TRightInsight) August 22, 2025

Boston about to FAFO

— Major Swagger (@Maj0rSwagger) August 21, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.