ICE arrests 12 in Nantucket, Massachusetts; lawmaker slams 'shameful' political move

Several people were deported from Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Tuesday as part of an US immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) operation on the island.In a post on X, the department of homeland security said, “ICE is removing illegal aliens from ALL states, communities, and worksites across this country.” “If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home app to self-deport. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return,” it added.There was also a video that showed several people in life vests sitting on a US coast guard boat along with officers wearing what appeared to be bulletproof vests.The arrests come at a time when the Trump administration’s nationwide deportation efforts are facing major legal challenges.According to The Nantucket Current, at least 12 individuals were detained and removed from the island on Tuesday afternoon. Local reports indicated ICE also made arrests on Martha’s Vineyard — another Massachusetts island known for its seasonal population of workers and tourists.Massachusetts state senator Julian Cyr, a Democrat representing Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and parts of Cape Cod, criticised the operation. “It’s sad and it’s shameful to see the immigrants who make our communities function, particularly in these most busy summer months, be targeted, harassed, and in some cases, forcibly removed from their families and lives just for a political agenda.” The move is similar to a 2022 incident when Florida governor Ron DeSantis sent a plane with dozens of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard without notice, adding to the political debate over immigration.