Massachusetts pol posts profanity-laced anti-ICE video

State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven (D-Somerville) has released a profane video on Instagram calling for an end to any and all state cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), legislation allowing ICE agents to be prosecuted in Massachusetts, and more, all in the effort to get the agency “the (expletive) out of Massachusetts.”

Uyterhoeven posted the video to her Instagram page Wednesday, delivering a profanity-laced tirade calling on fellow state lawmakers to do everything in their power to stop federal immigration enforcement in Massachusetts.

“We need to get ICE the (expletive) out of Massachusetts. My name is Erika Uyterhoeven. I’m a state legislator and the Massachusetts State House needs to be doing everything it can to stop ICE from killing, abducting, detaining and deporting our neighbors,” said Uyterhoeven as she began the video, filmed in Boston Common across the street from the State House.

“We have the power to pass legislation to stop the police, the courts, prisons, and jails from communicating with ICE. Federal agents do not have absolute immunity from state prosecution. ICE has not been held accountable and we need to strengthen our Massachusetts state laws now,” she said.

In response to several questions from the Herald regarding her motivation for the video and if she plans to introduce legislation to prosecute ICE agents, among other questions, Uyterhoeven issued a one-sentence written answer.

“ICE is a rogue agency that has no place in Massachusetts and we have to both raise awareness and hold accountable their egregious overreach and illegal actions,” Uyterhoeven said.

In a caption on her Instagram post, Uyterhoeven went on to encourage her followers to join the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts hotline, an organization used by anti-ICE activists that tracks and responds to ICE activity in the state with the goal of protesting agents as they conduct operations and tipping off illegal immigrants to a potential operation targeting them.

Uyterhoeven’s video comes amid a surge in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, particularly in Minneapolis after substantial fraud was uncovered in Minnesota through Somali-ran daycares and other establishments as well as the fatal ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis last week that left Renee Nicole Good dead.

It also comes as a shipment of 24 SUVs recently delivered to the ICE facility in Burlington has sparked concern among Massachusetts politicians of a larger ICE operation in the Bay State.

DHS declined to answer a Herald inquiry into if a larger ICE operation will be seen in Massachusetts in the near-future, issuing a written statement defending the agency’s actions in Boston and across the country.

“Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country including in Boston. We do not discuss future or potential operations,” a DHS spokesperson said.

When asked Wednesday if her office is preparing for an increased ICE presence, Gov. Maura Healey denounced the agency and President Trump for leaving residents “terrified.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu expressed concern about a large operation coming to her city when discussing the issue on WBUR on Tuesday.

“We already have ICE in Massachusetts. We’ve had ICE in Massachusetts for months now and unfortunately their actions have led to, as I just said, people are terrified. They’re scared to death, they’re not going to school, they’re not going to work, they’re not going to their doctors appointments, they’re not going to court when they’re a victim of a crime. That’s not right,” said Healey. “So, I continue to encourage the president to change course on this, because ICE here in Massachusetts and around the country, they’re just acting at the direction of Donald Trump.”

DHS also provided the Herald with a detailed list of the “worst of the worst” criminals ICE has arrested in Boston, including Mahmoud Shamseddine, a criminal illegal alien from Sierra Leone, convicted of assault, aggravated assault, selling cocaine, and police officer strongarm. The list also included Eduardo Ramirez, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala convicted of aggravated assault with a weapon and abduction.

The Massachusetts federal delegation has also been taking aim at the agency, introducing numerous bills in recent weeks that call for the defunding of ICE and the prosecution of agents, among other measures.

Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Seth Moulton (MA-06) had a highly-publicized feud with Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in December following oversight tours at the Burlington facility. Moulton has also filed legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to sue federal agents who arrested or detained them. Senator Ed Markey has recently called for ending qualified immunity for ICE agents, while Moulton and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09) have signed on as co-sponsors to Articles of Impeachment for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“There are 3 key things we can do in Massachusetts to protect our neighbors from ICE,” Uytherhoeven wrote in the caption of her post. “1. Stop MA police, courts, prisons, and jails from helping ICE. 2. End the surveillance state from targeting us. 3. Hold ICE agents accountable for breaking state laws.”

Uyterhoeven was first elected to state office in 2020, replacing former state Rep. Denise Provost.