Politics
DHS and Boston mayor clash over ICE surge parking leases
The Department of Homeland Security called Mayor Michelle Wu's actions "unhinged" after she urged private property owners to reject leasing parking spaces to federal immigration authorities.
The short version
- The Department of Homeland Security criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for trying to dissuade private parking owners from leasing space to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Wu and the Boston City Council are actively opposing ICE's request to lease 249 contiguous parking spaces in the city for surge operations.
- The city of Boston filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to identify local property owners who respond to ICE's solicitation.
Key facts
- ICE issued a "sources sought" notice last month seeking to lease 249 contiguous parking spaces in Boston for five years to facilitate surge operations.[Fox News]
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued an open letter asking local parking garage and lot owners to reject proposals from ICE, warning that such staging facilities would pose risks to public safety.[Fox News]
- The city of Boston submitted a FOIA request to ICE seeking all submissions and responses from private property owners regarding the surge parking notice.[Fox News]
- The Department of Homeland Security publicly condemned Wu's actions on social media, accusing her of "hunting down" and intimidating private property owners because she lacks the authority to block the leases directly.[Fox News]
- The Boston City Council passed an emergency resolution calling on the city to explore all avenues to block the proposed ICE parking leases in downtown Boston.[Fox News]