BOSTON — ICE Boston is publicly torching local media outlets, accusing them of pushing “fictitious fear tactics” and “lying for web clicks” after rumors spread claiming federal agents were preparing immigration raids at churches and places of worship.

In a blistering statement posted Thursday, ICE’s Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations office said the reports were flat-out false — and possibly deliberate.

ICE @EROBoston is aware of some (deliberate?) fictitious fear tactics incorporated by local media outlets. ICE does NOT target churches. We are not planning operations at places of worship. We conduct intelligence-driven targeted operations. These outlets are lying for web clicks pic.twitter.com/EW7TBZJYWY

— ICE Boston (@EROBoston) November 20, 2025

ICE said it “does NOT target churches” and is not planning any operations at religious sites during the holidays or at any other time. Instead, officials say they conduct “intelligence-driven, targeted enforcement operations” focused on criminal offenders.

The agency blasted the outlets behind the rumors as publishing a “dangerous and false media narrative,” warning that these kinds of claims have already fueled a more than 1000% increase in attacks on ICE officers nationwide.

A graphic posted by the Boston field office went even further, calling attempts to link immigration arrests to racism or discrimination “not only untrue and irresponsible,” but part of a trend that has included a sniper attack on an ICE field office in Dallas and incidents where “protestors” used vehicles as weapons.

The office didn’t name which newsrooms it believes are pushing the story — but the message was unmistakable: some local journalists are manufacturing panic.

Under current federal leadership, the Boston office says it remains focused on arresting and removing “criminal alien offenders” from New England communities — not targeting churches, synagogues, or mosques.

As holiday season politics heat up, this is one of ICE Boston’s sharpest public rebukes of local media in years, warning outlets not to stoke fear or misinformation for traffic.

(File photo provided by ICE Boston.)