Boston mayor clashes with DHS over ICE parking requests

Boston’s Democratic mayor, Michelle Wu, called on private parking garage owners to decline a request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to lease hundreds of spaces for five years, after the city had prohibited ICE vehicles from using city-owned lots. In an open letter, Wu warned that allowing such staging sites could threaten public safety and disrupt regional commerce. The Department of Homeland Security reacted on X, labeling Wu’s effort as “unhinged” and asserting she has no power to prevent ICE from using private property.

Boston submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to gather any local replies to ICE’s “sources sought” notice, which was later reviewed by one outlet. The city council had earlier passed an emergency resolution urging the municipality to explore ways to block the proposed leases. ICE’s notice also listed large parking needs in cities such as Denver, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas, Phoenix and Pittsburgh.