Local News
“We are reviewing and investigating these submissions as they come in and will work with the AG’s Office to release others when they are ready.”
In response to a public records request, state officials released four submissions to its ICE misconduct portal launched in March, but declined to release more records.
“We are reviewing and investigating these submissions as they come in and will work with the AG’s Office to release others when they are ready,” a spokesperson for Governor Maura Healey said.
The governor’s office declined to comment on how many submissions have been received through the portal, which was launched in mid-March for reporting potentially unlawful activity and misconduct by federal agents enforcing immigration law.
Healey’s office also did not reply to multiple inquiries into how many submissions have be received since March.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, while deferring to the governor’s office as the “custodians” of the submissions to the portal, said some complaints can be referred to the AG’s office for review.
In response to a request for all of the submissions to the portal, the AG’s office shared four reports with Boston.com.
In one report, dated March 1, a lawful permanent resident said they were detained and interrogated by federal agents at Logan International Airport after returning from a trip abroad.
“I was unlawfully detained and interrogated for over 12 hours, during which time I received no food and was not permitted to make any telephone calls,” the person, whose personal information was redacted, wrote. “Although a thorough search of my belongings revealed no evidence of any illegal activity or contraband, I remained in isolation for an excessive period — conduct I consider to be gross misconduct and a violation of my basic civil liberties.”
The person’s phone was also taken by immigration agents and had not yet been returned, they wrote in the report.
On March 9, a person in Cohasset filed a report with the misconduct portal to alert state officials to armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting a man. The report writer asked for animal control to come and help the man’s dog.
Another person reported ICE agents “marshalling in the parking lot” at Corporation Beach in Dennis on March 14. The report said the agents were “doing weapon checks and looking at maps.”
Another brief report said that agents were near Needham High School on March 17. The person who filed the report wrote that agents “harassed a high school kid.”
After the portal was launched, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson blamed “smears” from politicians like Healey and Campbell for increasing threats against federal agents.
Earlier this year, Healey filed legislation that would prevent ICE officers from operating in schools, places of worship, and hospitals in Massachusetts.
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