Massachusetts district attorney is weighing criminal charges against an ICE agent who arrested an illegal immigrant during a Boston court proceeding, sparking a fresh clash between federal immigration enforcement and local authorities.
Key Facts:
- Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden may file charges against ICE agent Brian Sullivan.
- Sullivan arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron, an illegal immigrant, on March 27 in Boston during an active trial.
- The judge accused Sullivan of obstructing justice and violating Martell-Lebron’s trial rights.
- Hayden called ICE’s actions “reckless” and “unprofessional” at a press conference.
- The criminal trial against Martell-Lebron was dismissed after ICE failed to return him to court.
The Rest of The Story:
On March 27, ICE agent Brian Sullivan arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron, a Dominican national, outside a Boston courtroom just as his criminal trial was underway.
Martell-Lebron was facing charges for allegedly submitting false information on a driver’s license application.
His arrest came after the first day of trial, which included opening statements and witness testimony.
Judge Mark Summerville later ruled the arrest was a violation of Martell-Lebron’s constitutional right to be present at trial and confront witnesses.
He accused Sullivan of obstruction of justice and called the situation “disturbing.”
After ICE failed to return the defendant to court custody, the judge dismissed the case entirely.
DA Kevin Hayden echoed the judge’s frustration, claiming the federal arrest undermined public safety and his office’s ability to prosecute crime.
In response, ICE defended its practices, pointing to dozens of arrests of criminal illegal immigrants involved in serious offenses like child rape, violent assaults, and drug trafficking.
BREAKING: Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden is considering criminal charges against the ICE agents that detained a convicted drug trafficker mid-trial
Hayden says ICE’s actions are undermining safety and reminded everyone that Boston is the safest city in America pic.twitter.com/xBhz00jAOw
— Bostonians Against Mayor Wu (@AntiWuCoalition) April 2, 2025
Commentary:
DA Kevin Hayden may think he’s laying down the law, but he’s stepping into a political hornet’s nest.
The federal government has a clear mandate to enforce immigration laws, especially when individuals are already facing criminal charges.
Interfering with ICE could set a dangerous precedent and weaken cooperation between local and federal law enforcement.
By framing the ICE arrest as an attack on due process, Hayden risks turning a lawful immigration action into a political spectacle.
The defendant wasn’t plucked from his home—he was in court for committing another crime.
Let’s not forget: the only reason ICE was there is because Martell-Lebron broke the law—twice.
Does Hayden really want to pick this fight with a Trump administration that won’t hesitate to direct the full power of the federal government back at sanctuary jurisdictions?
If he proceeds, he might find himself facing far more scrutiny than he bargained for.
This isn’t about protecting the rule of law.
It’s about using the legal system to frustrate immigration enforcement.
That’s not justice—it’s obstruction under a different name.
The public knows what’s going on here, and they’re not buying the spin.
If ICE can’t do its job in the courtroom, where exactly does Hayden think they should do it?
In schools?
In neighborhoods?
The courthouse is one of the safest, most controlled environments for enforcement.
Hayden should ask himself whether shielding criminal non-citizens is worth alienating a large portion of the public who expect their government—local and federal—to uphold the law.
The Bottom Line:
DA Kevin Hayden’s threat to prosecute an ICE agent sends a message that local officials are willing to shield criminal illegal immigrants, even at the cost of public safety.
This move risks igniting a broader conflict with federal authorities and undermines cooperation on law enforcement.
It’s a political gamble with serious consequences.
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