Town’s Statement Regarding ICE Operations in Amherst

Source: amherstma.gov

Town of Amherst officials were made aware of an action by federal agents including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that resulted in two individuals being taken into custody in separate incidents between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. It has also been reported that this is not the first time ICE has taken members of the community into custody.  

The Town of Amherst and the Amherst Police Department did not participate in either of these incidents and have not participated in any federal immigration enforcement actions that have occurred. ICE operated independently from the town and with no prior notification. No additional information is available at this time.  

The Town of Amherst is a sanctuary community and as such shall not cooperate with ICE. Section 3.9 of the Town of Amherst General Bylaws declares the Town of Amherst as a sanctuary community and states clearly that:  

To the extent permissible by law, a Town department, or officer or employee of a Town department shall not perform the functions of an immigration officer, whether pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §1357(g) or any other law, regulation, or policy, whether formal or informal. 

Read More on Amherst Arrests:
ICE Takes Two into Custody Wednesday Morning in Amherst (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

Read more on recent ICE activities in Massachusetts:”
Opinion: Worcester Protesters Show How to Respond to ICE Raids (Horizon Mass News)
Immigrants Fear Possible Collaboration Between ICE and Police in Mass. Communities (NBC Boston)
Twelve Year Old Boy Left Alone on Sidewalk During ICE Raid in Massachusetts (CBS News)
AG Campbell Puts out Guidance on What Immigrants and Mass. Communities Should Know About ICE (Boston Globe)
In Massachusetts’ Island Communities, Sudden ICE Arrests Rattle Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard (Boston Globe)
ICE’s Brazen Arrests are Undermining Communities (Boston Globe)