U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were on the Vineyard Tuesday stopping vehicles and taking people into custody, according to officials and eyewitnesses.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested about 40 people Tuesday after wide-ranging sweeps on both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
With the help of the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, ICE conducted several traffic stops across the Vineyard and Nantucket throughout the day. The agency in a statement late Tuesday evening said it apprehended an MS-13 gang member and a child sex offender.
ICE did not provide the names of the people taken into custody, further details of the alleged criminality or say how many were detained on the Vineyard alone.
“ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods,” Patricia Hyde, the acting ICE Boston field office director said in the statement.
Reports of officers in unmarked vehicles making stops in down-Island towns spread across social media in the morning, and witnesses said they saw masked officers stopping vehicles to question their occupants.
In one video shared online, a masked officer with the FBI is seen talking to a driver in a L&R Electrical Services van along Barnes Road.
Thiago Alves, the owner of L&R Electrical Services, confirmed one of his workers was stopped by officers that were with the FBI and ICE. Mr. Alves’ business is based in Rhode Island, and his worker arrived on the Island on Monday.
The man, who Mr. Alves said has a green card, was released after questioning, but officers were interested in his immigration documentation.
“They questioned my guys looking for paperwork,” Mr. Alves said.
Several other workers in the trades had been stopped as well, he said.
“My guy said they are stopping all the work vans,” Mr. Alves said. “It’s nothing against [us], it’s pretty much everyone.”
Other Islanders saw people taken into custody in Vineyard Haven. One Island woman, who asked to be anonymous for fear of reprisal, was driving along State Road at about 7:30 a.m. when she saw officers arrest a man across the street from Vineyard Grocer near the cemetery.
Coast Guard was enlisted to take detainees off the Island.
Coast Guard was enlisted to take detainees off the Island.
While on her way to work, she saw more stops at the Barnes Road rotary, including by officers wearing Drug Enforcement Administration garb.
“They were just grabbing people out of their cars,” she said.
Emily Moehnke was driving her daughter to the 7 a.m. ferry and also saw someone stopped near the Vineyard Haven cemetery. A little later in the morning, she saw an MV Mini Splits truck pulled over by officers on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.
Both the DEA and FBI confirmed they had agents assisting ICE, and referred further questions to ICE. ICE declined to comment further on the arrests after releasing its statement Tuesday evening.
Oak Bluffs police Chief Jonathan Searle said he was not notified by ICE that arrests were going to be made on the Island and his department wasn’t involved.
“We get involved if there’s criminal activity,” he said. “Things with immigration are out of our jurisdiction.”
In the afternoon, several agents gathered at the Menemsha Coast Guard station, where detainees were transported to the mainland aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Just before 4 p.m., a Coast Guard boat carrying about 10 officers departed, but not before a small group of Islanders gave the agents a piece of their mind.
Protests were held in Vineyard Haven.
Protests were held in Vineyard Haven.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” one woman shouted as agents came and went from their vehicles into the Coast Guard station.
As the agents were leaving, Coast Guard member Tyler Vanderhaden came out and spoke to the gaggle of Vineyarders and explained that the station was ordered to help facilitate the transportation.
“I’m sorry this is causing distress in the community,” he said. “However, we do have an order to support [the other agencies].”
The arrests had Island institutions on high alert. The Vineyard public schools, which have many immigrant students, were monitoring the situation, according to superintendent Richard Smith.
In an email to parents sent out Tuesday, Mr. Smith said students’ well-being is the district’s highest priority.
“We want to remind you that we have protocols in place, aligned with state laws and District policies, to handle any requests for student or family information, as well as access to students, staff, or school property,” he wrote. “This includes requests from immigration authorities. Our staff are trained to follow these protocols to safeguard our students and school community.”
This is not the first time that ICE has been on the Vineyard. Last September the agency said it arrested a Salvadoran man who was wanted for “crimes against humanity” and a Brazilian man wanted for international drug trafficking.
But the operation was much larger than in the past, where no more than a handful of individuals were arrested.
Rumors had been swirling around the Vineyard earlier in the year about a potential ICE raid, causing concern in the Island’s immigrant population.
Immigration attorney and Chappaquiddick resident Rachel Self, who did not know the particulars of Tuesday’s stops, said she has seen a shift in ICE’s focus in the last four months.
“While under the previous administration, people with serious criminal records might have been prioritized for arrest, now absolutely everyone is at risk of being detained,” she said. “There are no more priorities. ICE is going after the low-hanging fruit: people who show up to their immigration court hearings and check-in appointments, and people who have otherwise placed themselves on the radar by following the rules.”
She encouraged non-citizens on the Vineyard to know their rights, have a plan in case a loved one is arrested, and continue to move forward with getting full citizenship.
Addison Antonoff contributed to this report.
Comments
You knew it was coming
Cement Truck Diver On IslandYou knew it was coming sometime
Just awful. Can't believe
Maddie ChilmarkJust awful. Can't believe this happened here.
DESPICABLE AND SHAMEFUL!!
John VHDESPICABLE AND SHAMEFUL!!
Thank you to all Law
Bill Henderson EdgartownThank you to all Law Enforcement agencies involved. Hope the protestors at SSA didn't impede your assignments(LOL).Keep up the outstanding work you all do. Oorah!
I fully support the work by
Brad Ford Vineyard HavenI fully support the work by our federal agencies, I don’t want any illegal aliens allowed to stay here in the United States. There is always waiting for and looking for a job that are citizens of the United States.
RESIST
James Pringle VINEYARD HAVENRESIST
Seems to be just a matter of
Mr. B ChilmarkSeems to be just a matter of going to an intersection where traffic slows and stopping/grabbing anyone who is not white and appears to be unlikely to defend themselves.
They are still here today 5
Concerned MVThey are still here today 5/28. Watch out. Know your rights.
This is irresponsible
Dean Lovewell Vineyard HavenThis is irresponsible reporting. In the United States, we have the presumption of innocence. By stating that ICE apprehended an “MS-13 gang member” without any independent verification, and without using the word alleged, the Gazette risks presenting unproven government claims as fact.
This is particularly troubling given that the administration has a documented history of falsely labeling individuals as MS-13 members without evidence or due process. Serious accusations like this deserve more careful, accountable reporting—especially from a publication I’ve long respected.
The people of Martha’s Vineyard deserve better than this, Ethan.
The article clearly states
Noah AsimowThe article clearly states that ICE said the agency apprehended an MS-13 gang member, and then goes on to say that ICE provided no evidence of their claim. Seems like good reporting to me. Also, I would argue it's important that The Gazette reports ICE's original claim, so that there is a published record if The Gazette pursues the story and discovers that ICE is incorrect.
To be clear, this was saying
Sharon FTo be clear, this was saying what was in the statement released by the government afterward.
Unless it is a direct quote,
Geraldine Brooks West TisburyUnless it is a direct quote, in quotation marks, the newspaper has a responsibility to say "alleged." But innocent until proven guilty, like probable cause, habeas corpus and loving your neighbor seem to be dated concepts to this administration, and a few heartless commentators on this page.
This is not what my
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsThis is not what my grandparents immigrated to this country for. All of us, unless our ancestors were indigenous people, are descended from immigrants. People of hopes, dreams and courage. I’m ashamed of this country.
How can we help? This is
harriet WTHow can we help? This is terrifying.
Thank you to all the law
Paul EdgartownThank you to all the law enforcement agencies! Be safe, we need you! Don’t let a few hecklers bother you, most if the island wants you and needs you. Especially after the last 4 years!
Good bless America
Why is law enforcement hiding
Jimmy OBWhy is law enforcement hiding behind masks?
Great question Jimmy.
Clarence OtisGreat question Jimmy.
Yes I’d like to know what’s
Concerned EdgartownYes I’d like to know what’s up with the masks. If they tried to pull me over I would head directly to a police station thinking them criminals.
I spoke with someone in Law
Jamie Martha's VineyardI spoke with someone in Law Enforcement in regards to this. If in fact there were alleged gang members that were arrested, having their face showing could compromise both their safety and the safety of their family. Also, I was told that many of these guys might be working on other cases that involve undercover work, and that showing their face could jeopardize other cases they are on. It's a safety thing is what it comes down to for them and their families.
This is going to hurt the
ClarkThis is going to hurt the economy of the Vineyard. Also, how much money did it cost to send in these FBI agents. Wasted money and for what?
So now us taxpayers are
Joan BranniganSo now us taxpayers are paying for all these detentions when it seems most of these people had been working and paying taxes. We are getting screwed.
Pretty obvious a politically
Gina Menemsha/NYCPretty obvious a politically based statement agents with covered statements dramatically pulling random work vehicles over. Similar message from the DeSantis/Republican playbook
No Sanctuary locations are safe.
Thank you ICE for your
Cmd Lewis Ret. MenemshaThank you ICE for your service to the nation. While on island, FBI should look into the local corruption and communists.
Undocumented immigrants paid
Dianne Lawrence Los AngelesUndocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022
Thank you ice for helping
Michael EdgartownThank you ice for helping keep mv safe. There are laws and we appreciate the enforcement of immigration laws as they have historically been there for a reason.
For those applauding the
Bill Hamden Ct and EdgartownFor those applauding the arrests. Please recall your "joy" when you can't get your lawn cut, your appliances repaired, your addition built and the items you want at the store.
Agreed!
GV former residentAgreed!
The elite that summer here certainly won’t have their offspring vying for these jobs. Let’s be real.
The arrests of hard working people that many islanders hire will only aggravate the economy.
Who will cook your dinner at any MV restaurant? Pour you a cocktail? Clean your home? Watch your child or grandchild? Pump your gas? Fix your car, paint your home, etc etc.
Conservatives must check their privilege and behave appropriately. Love your fellow man, man.
Seems pretty inefficient to
Ed MVSeems pretty inefficient to use taxpayers money to send multiple government agencies to two small islands to deport workers who most likely can't afford the fees to immigrate legally. It is no longer a matter of showing up in the US like one could until about a hundred years ago. It is now very expensive. If the ruling powers wanted to work efficiently they could go to the big food processors and resorts and construction companies. I guess that wouldn't generate the same press as showing muscle to the east coast liberal elites. Oh, and those other companies are often in red states and make large political contributions to the right wing.
First they came for the
QuahogFirst they came for the lobsters...
What is wrong with this
Tony LaCasse MassachusettsWhat is wrong with this picture?
Armed, masked men not in uniform and in unmarked cars pulling over any random work vehicle without warrants or any reasonable suspicion of a crime. You are asked to produce your identification papers because someone demands it. There is no reporting of who was detained, where they are being held and what they are charged with. They are moved at great expense hundreds or thousands of miles away to willfully obstruct due process and to instill a climate of fear.
This is directly from the playbook of tinhorn dictatorship political thuggery.
I do not oppose enforcement of our immigration laws, but I want it done by professional law enforcement in uniform in marked cars with warrants or actual cause to stop a vehicle. The names of those being arrested, their charges and location of detainment should be readily available to the public and media within 24 hours like any other police activity. Those arrested should be appearing in courts in the state jurisdiction in which they were detained in a prompt manner with legal representation.
Is this so radical? These constitutional protections were once considered core, undisputed American values.
A few things jump out. "MS
Bob Dickerman MassachusettsA few things jump out. "MS-13 gang member and child sex offender." Our government has lied to me before about people belonging to MS-13. How do I know they're not lying again? Saying "MS-13" means nothing to me, I've been lied to before about this. Is this a convicted sex offender? Or a suspect? Someone who did their time and is now in the registry? Again, just saying "sex offender" means nothing, it's just justification for behavior, a scare tactic. If you had a suspected sex offender out there, then this is an issue for local law enforcement.
And, a US citizen did not give her last name for fear of reprisal. This is not unreasonable, our government has shown that retaliation is part of their playbook. A sad state of affairs.
Confirmed gang member(s) and
Susan Montana Edgartown, MAConfirmed gang member(s) and child predator(s) removed from the island, why wouldn’t the community as a whole be celebrating this especially parents of vulnerable young children?
Recall Obama deported upwards of 5 million undocumented immigrants over 8 years and not a peep of protest out of anyone….
Like the pilgrims came here,
Chris OBLike the pilgrims came here, legally?
The original inhabitants of this continent were indigenous people of color. White people came here illegally and took their land. From the beginning this was never meant to be an all white country. These ICE actions are not based on legality, they are based on racism.
That so many are concerned
Islander MVThat so many are concerned about these acts that the immigration department of America has that there are many people who are undocumented, people are here in the USA illegally, are founded–when did we become a country that was not interested in following immigration law? I don't think MAGA is the answer and I didn't vote for the guy in the Oval Office, but it is so perplexing that so many feel that laws are just pieces of paper with words written down on them and nothing more–do they feel that way about the Declaration of Independence?
Just as it was abominable to pardon the January 6th rioters and for President Trump to get off the hook for trying to steal the 2020 election, it is absurd that Americans of any political leaning to accept the broken immigration system as if the situation is not having enormous problems and laws are in place, here on Martha's Vineyard, it affects all kinds of things. This is a complex situation, and the process of ICE is patently uncomfortable with the masks to hide their identity for their own security/doxing (something both liberals and conservatives are used to doing), and the lack of information given to those detained–but due process should occur, we are seeing the judicial system in America making sure it does.
Appreciate that so many
K VHAppreciate that so many Vineyarders have compassion and/or understanding of the important role immigrants play in the economy.
For those saluting this operation, next time you go to any establishment, uou can start by cleaning the toilet yourself.
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