BROCKTON — Massachusetts under Maura Healey has turned into a sanctuary for criminal aliens — and one of them apparently thought he was blending in as a Boston Celtics fan.

On May 14, federal agents arrested William Alberto Villalobos-Melendez, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national and validated MS-13 member, in a Brockton parking lot while he posed in a green Celtics shirt. Nobody’s quite sure if he was rooting for Jayson Tatum or just hoping to pass for a local, but ICE says he was a violent gangbanger hiding in plain sight.

A threat ignored for years

“Villalobos-Melendez has been illegally residing in the United States for almost nine years,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting ICE Boston field office director. “He is a validated member of a violent transnational street gang and poses a threat to our Massachusetts residents. ICE Boston will not tolerate any threat that a member of a nefarious gang poses to our neighbors.”

Border Patrol first caught him sneaking into Texas back in 2016. A DOJ judge ordered him deported in 2019. But thanks to Massachusetts’ soft-on-ICE stance, he simply stayed put — racking up charges while politicians like Healey and Wu acted like immigration enforcement was the real crime.

Brockton bust, years late

This spring, Massachusetts State Police in Middleboro cited him for unlicensed driving and texting behind the wheel. Instead of being removed, he was free to keep roaming until ICE, FBI Boston, and Homeland Security agents finally dragged him off in May.

Now he’s in custody, awaiting the deportation he should have faced six years ago.

Healey’s sanctuary, Wu’s silence

Critics say this is exactly what happens when Massachusetts leaders refuse to cooperate with ICE. “Every time Beacon Hill politicians brag about sanctuary policies, this is what they’re defending,” one law enforcement source told MDN.

Wu and Healey talk tough about “safety” and “equity,” but while Boston residents were warned not to let their kids wear gang colors, one of MS-13’s own was strutting around in Celtics gear — until ICE showed up.

Key points

• MS-13 gang member arrested in Brockton May 14
• Ordered deported in 2019 but ignored judge’s order
• First caught crossing the Texas border in 2016
• Cited by State Police in March for unlicensed driving and texting
• Finally taken down by ICE, FBI, and Homeland Security in coordinated bust
• Now in custody, awaiting removal to El Salvador

Members of the public can report criminal aliens by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE.