US Attorney Leah Foley: Criminal Immigration Charges Surge Over 500% in Mass

Foley also plans to target public benefits fraud and online extremist groups in the coming year.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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U.S. Attorney Leah Foley reported a six-fold increase in criminal immigration charges in Massachusetts in 2025, from 22 individuals charged in 2024 to 139 'criminal immigration matters' last year. Foley also said her office saw a doubling of child exploitation charges and an 80% overall increase in charges. On the civil side, habeas petitions increased 12,000% as individuals detained by ICE sought custody review by judges. Foley acknowledged tensions between federal and local policies on immigration but said her office has good working relationships with state law enforcement. Looking ahead, Foley plans to prioritize investigating fraud in government programs and the online extremist organization '764 group'.

Why it matters

The sharp rise in criminal immigration charges highlights the federal government's increased focus on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, even in a Democratic-leaning state like Massachusetts. Foley's comments also reflect the ongoing tensions between federal and local policies on immigration, as some state and city leaders have raised concerns about civil rights violations by ICE. The planned crackdown on public benefits fraud and online extremism signals the U.S. Attorney's Office is taking a broad approach to combating various types of criminal activity.

The details

According to Foley, the U.S. Attorney's Office saw a six-fold increase in criminal immigration charges in 2025, from 22 individuals charged in 2024 to 139 'criminal immigration matters' last year. The office also saw a doubling of child exploitation charges and an 80% overall increase in charges. On the civil side, habeas petitions increased 12,000%, from 7 in 2024 to 850 in 2025, as individuals detained by ICE sought custody review by judges. Foley acknowledged tensions between federal and local policies on immigration but said her office has good working relationships with state law enforcement. Looking ahead, Foley plans to prioritize investigating fraud in government programs like SNAP, as well as the online extremist organization '764 group' that engages in sextortion and extortion against children.

  • In 2025, the US Attorney's Office saw a six-fold increase in criminal immigration charges.
  • The number of child exploitation charges also doubled in 2025.
  • The office's charges increased overall by 80% in 2025.

The players

Leah Foley

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, appointed by former President Trump.

Andrea Joy Campbell

The Attorney General of Massachusetts who has raised concerns about violations of civil and constitutional rights by ICE.

Michelle Wu

The Mayor of Boston who has also raised concerns about violations of civil and constitutional rights by ICE.

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What they’re saying

“There is a tension between how [the Department of Homeland Security] views the law and how the courts [view it] when it comes to mandatory detentions.”

— Leah Foley, U.S. Attorney (bostonherald.com)

“The words that came out of their mouths were not truthful.”

— Leah Foley, U.S. Attorney (bostonherald.com)

“This office has nothing to do with intense crackdowns, but what has been said before is in areas of the country where the state and locals cooperate with ICE, you don't see that type of friction and chaos in the streets.”

— Leah Foley, U.S. Attorney (bostonherald.com)

What’s next

Foley said she hopes to bring together investigators from DHS and the inspector general offices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor 'to coordinate together, to be force multipliers, and to try to identify where the system breakdown is' on public benefits fraud.

The takeaway

Foley's comments highlight the federal government's increased focus on immigration enforcement and fraud in government programs, even in a Democratic-leaning state like Massachusetts. The tensions between federal and local policies on immigration remain a key issue, as some state and city leaders have raised concerns about civil rights violations by ICE.