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Somerville has become a focal point for immigrant detentions, with city officials verifying that more than 30 people have been detained in the area since January.
This weekend marked an “acceleration of ICE activity,” according to city spokeswoman Denise Taylor. As of Monday, staff confirmed four people had been detained and are working to confirm an additional three. Taylor noted that “overwhelmingly, those apprehended have been of Brazilian origin and have not been convicted of any violent crimes.”
On Saturday, city officials received reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. They worked to verify those reports and, through the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, offer support services to affected family members. The four confirmed detained individuals were transferred to Buffalo, New York. In many of these cases, the arrests were recorded by community members or elected officials.
On Saturday, City Councilor J.T. Scott witnessed officers jump out of two ICE vehicles and stop a man later identified as a 42-year-old Somerville resident, Magdaleno Pineda Avelar.
Scott recorded video showing Pineda Avelar answering agents’ questions but refusing to give his name. In the video, Scott offers to walk with Pineda Avelar into a local bakery, but the man declines, telling agents he “didn’t want to be rude.”
In the video, one agent notes Pineda Avelar is “lawful,” and Scott repeatedly mentions there is no warrant.
“[Pineda Avelar] was very polite and offered to be helpful. He was very clear on what his constitutional rights were and knew that he did not have to provide any identification,” said Scott. “He was extremely confident in his legal status and in his constitutional rights.”
Scott and others insist that before recording, Pineda Avelar was told he wasn’t going to be detained. But shortly after the questioning, he was put in handcuffs and taken away.
GBH News has been unable to determine if Pineda Avelar has legal representation, and ICE hasn’t responded to questions about his arrest, or the increase in activity in Somerville.
Somerville is a self-declared sanctuary city and does not participate in or interfere with federal civil immigration enforcement. Somerville, along with the city of Chelsea, is currently defending its policies in federal court against a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration.
The Office of Immigrant Affairs works to connect families to its legal partners at Greater Boston Legal Services. Since last December, Somerville has conducted 143 know-your-rights trainings and handed out more than 5,000 cards summarizing what immigrants can do and what rights they have in ICE interactions.
“The sooner staff can verify a detainment, the sooner legal and social service supports can be provided to the individual and their loved ones,” Taylor said. “At this time, staff continue to work with affected loved ones to support them through the many challenges that lie ahead.”
The city also offers support to students enrolled in its public schools, including helping people arrange for temporary care for minors if a parent is detained.
City officials say some of the people who’ve been detained this year are lawfully present, but they acknowledge that others had their “immigration documents lapse.”
“There’s an incredible amount of outrage,” said Scott. “We are a very densely populated community, so seeing the federal government abducting people and removing them from our community is extremely distressing for our neighbors. It is evident as this arrest shows that if you are brown in public, you are at risk of being illegally detained and removed from your family and your community.”
Scott said another person was detained while taking laundry to the laundromat recently, and four painters were detained having breakfast at a local Dunkin’ on Saturday.
Councilor Matt McLaughlin said he has seen a video of the arrest and talking to members of the community. He said the impact has been significant.
“People are hiding — anybody who’s concerned is staying at home. They’re being quiet. People are afraid,” he said, noting that some immigrant-owned businesses are shutting down. McLaughlin said arrests in East Somerville are up because it is the densest part of the city. “It’s very easy to just go around and just pick people up at random,” he said.
