ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

10/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2026 10:11

ICE Boston arrests 82 illegal aliens during 3-day operation in Massachusetts

BOSTON - ICE Boston conducted a targeted immigration enforcement operation in southeastern Massachusetts during the week of Sept. 21 to arrest multiple criminal illegal aliens. Several of these aliens were released from jail by sanctuary jurisdictions that refused to honor ICE immigration detainers. Authorities arrested 82 illegal aliens during the three-day operation.

Sanctuary policies only put American citizens at risk by allowing dangerous criminal illegal aliens to walk the street freely, without regard to the crimes they have committed. Now, under President Trump and Secretary Mullin's leadership, sanctuary cities are no longer a safe haven for the worst of the worst, such as child predators and sex offenders.

President Trump's directive to ICE has been clear: find any and all criminal illegal aliens and deport them, making our nation more secure and our communities safer.

Many of the aliens have criminal histories that include charges such as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, indecent assault, and battery on a child under 14, possession of child sexual abuse material, extortion by threat of injury, strangulation or suffocation, driving under the influence, and larceny.

"Time and time again, sanctuary politicians in Massachusetts have made the dumbfounding choice to prioritize dangerous criminal illegal aliens rather than their law-abiding American citizens," said acting ICE Boston Field Office Director Joseph Sher. "While these politicians continue to waste valuable time, energy and resources passing embarrassingly performative legislation such as the Protect Act, ERO Boston will continue to proudly protect Massachusetts communities from these dangerous criminals."

Those arrested include the following:

  • Robson Martins Da Silva, a criminal illegal alien from Brazil who was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Da Silva has also been arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault on a family or household member.
  • Ronan Rodrigues Dos Santos, a criminal illegal alien from Brazil who was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, threat to commit a crime, and disturbing the peace.
  • Raphael De Oliveira Batista, a previously removed criminal illegal alien from Brazil who was arrested for assault and battery on a family or household member, threat to commit a crime, and strangulation or suffocation. 
  • Joao Manuel Matos Ferreira, a criminal alien from Portugal who was convicted of two counts of assault with motor vehicle. He was also arrested for two counts of indecent exposure and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
  • Cristopher Paul Augui Cajas, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador who was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. He was also arrested for two counts of assault, disorderly conduct, leaving the scene of property damage, and indecent exposure.
  • Marlon Alexis Portillo-Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras who was convicted of driving under the influence.
  • Ricardo Faustin, a criminal illegal alien from Haiti who was arrested for five counts of extortion by threat of injury, six counts of larceny over $1,200 by false pretense, larceny under $1,200, larceny by single scheme, and conspiracy.

ICE Boston is profoundly grateful to the U.S. Coast Guard for its exceptional cooperation, unwavering support and invaluable assistance during the operation.

If you come to the U.S. illegally and break our laws, we will find you and arrest you, and you will never return. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.

If you have information about criminal alien activity in your community, call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or complete the online tip form. 

ICE Boston protects the homeland by arresting and removing those who undermine public safety and violate immigration laws in New England. Learn more about its public safety mission on X at @EROBoston.

ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement published this content on October 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 20, 2026 at 16:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]