Blue cities have become notorious for ignoring ICE detainers on violent criminal illegal immigrants and, in the process, allowing them back onto the streets, with the Boston area among the worst in the country for lack of cooperation between local law enforcement and immigration enforcement agencies – a standoff encouraged by and participated in by anti-ICE obstructionists on the left including Mayor Michelle Wu (D).
Across the border, Rhode Island, which the Trump DOJ has identified as a sanctuary state on its radar, has been the scene of numerous immigration sweeps since President Donald Trump took office for his second term.
Their presence in cities like Providence and the removal flights taking off from Portsmouth have led to outrage and “Nazi Gestapo!” accusations among local Democrat officials and far-left woketivists, the latter of whom have staged street protests, and set up tip lines and stakeouts where they locate ICE vehicles and allegedly give them no choice but to leave:
Some business owners have even gone so far as to set their establishments up as “immigrant defense zones“:
More than two dozen businesses in Rhode Island are part of a new network of “immigrant defense zones,” where doors will be closed to federal immigration agents.Kate Hao, an organizer with the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Coalition, spoke to reporters about the new initiative in front of Crown Fried Chicken in Providence last month.As of July 18, 25 businesses had pledged to “pledged to protect immigrant community members, including by closing their doors and refusing entry to immigration officials who do not have a judicial warrant,” Hao said.
The types of people these wacktivists apparently are trying to protect include Josue Santiago Perez-Gomez, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala who is accused of pedophilia and who was arrested by the Portsmouth, RI, police department last month.
According to ICE New England, however, Perez-Gomez was released the same day, which prompted ICE to take him into custody themselves:
ICE New England administratively arrested an illegally present Guatemalan national who had recently been charged and released on bond in the State of Rhode Island for allegedly engaging a minor for the purpose of sex.Josue Santiago Perez Gomez, 29, was taken into ICE custody on July 12, one day after he was arrested by local authorities in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on charges of patronizing a minor for commercial sex, indecent solicitation of a child, and procurement of sexual conduct for a fee.“This individual’s administrative arrest underscores HSI New England’s commitment to targeted enforcement that works to identify individuals seeking to cause harm to our communities, including and especially children,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “HSI will continue to work with our partners to enforce laws that uphold national security and the safety and wellbeing of our neighborhoods.”
Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin reported Saturday that ICE has now accused the Portsmouth PD of ignoring an immigration detainer they had placed on Perez-Gomez by releasing him the day of his arrest, which potentially put the community in danger from the alleged sexual predator once again:
ICE says Josue Santiago Perez-Gomez entered the U.S. illegally as a gotaway at an unknown time & location and had been arrested by Portsmouth PD for patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity, indecent solicitation of a child, and procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, but released him from custody the same day and ignored the ICE detainer. ICE Boston’s Providence, RI field office then found and arrested him. Statement to @FoxNews via ICE Boston Field Office Director Patricia Hyde:“Josue Santiago Perez-Gomez stands accused of some disgusting and disturbing crimes and represents a clear threat to the children of our Rhode Island communities. Releasing an alleged child sex offender the very day of his arrest begs the question, what is the point of arresting him at all? Luckily, the brave men and women of ICE were able to remove this criminal alien pedophile from our streets where local authorities allowed him to potentially reoffend.”
Understandably, Rhode Island residents like Prof. Jacobson want answers:
As do others:
Florida’s AG, James Uthmeier, who was instrumental in the creation of Alligator Alcatraz, also weighed in:
There was also this suggestion:
They should still be deported, but the billboard is not a bad idea at all.
– Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via X. –
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