BOSTON — Boston City Hall escalated its standoff with federal immigration authorities on Thursday, with Mayor Michelle Wu signing a sweeping executive order that puts federal agents on notice: if clashes happen in Boston, the cameras will be rolling — and the footage will be made public.

Wu’s order directs city departments to work with the Boston Police Department to publicly release video showing violence or property damage by federal officials, so long as that footage is captured by BPD body-worn cameras or other city-controlled surveillance systems.

City Hall says the policy is meant to deter confrontations and de-escalate tensions. In practice, it positions Boston in open opposition to federal immigration enforcement, promising transparency — and public exposure — if federal operations turn physical.

At a press conference Thursday, Wu framed the move as a defensive response to what she described as increasingly aggressive federal deployments elsewhere in the country.

“Our cities and towns have been standing together to protect our people for more than 250 years,” Wu said. “We will use every tool we have — every right and law and constitutional protection — to defend our residents from federal overreach.”

In the text of the executive order, Wu pointed to violent confrontations tied to immigration enforcement in cities including Minneapolis and Lewiston, Maine. The order references the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, accusing federal agents in those incidents of escalating chaos and violating constitutional rights.

The order lands amid mounting speculation that federal immigration enforcement activity may be ramping up in Massachusetts. Last month, multiple new SUVs were photographed being delivered to an ICE operations center in Burlington, fueling talk of expanded operations in the region.

At the same time, federal officials argue their enforcement efforts are targeting serious criminals — not random residents.

In a recent multi-week sweep known as Operation Patriot 2.0, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported arresting roughly 1,400 individuals across Massachusetts. ICE said many of those taken into custody had significant criminal histories, including child sex predators, rapists, fentanyl traffickers, repeat drunk drivers, and suspected gang members. Federal officials have described the operation as focused on “egregious criminal alien offenders,” a characterization that City Hall and immigration activists dispute.

Wu’s executive order does not stop federal agents from entering Boston, nor does it give the city authority over federal personnel. But it sharply limits how federal officials can use Boston property.

Under the directive, city-owned buildings, parks, and even parking lots may not be used as staging areas, processing locations, or operational bases for civil immigration enforcement unless federal agents present a court order or warrant.

The order also instructs Boston Police to prioritize de-escalation if federal enforcement actions draw protests or crowds, and to investigate any alleged criminal conduct that occurs within city limits — regardless of whether the individuals involved are federal officials.

Supporters of the mayor say the policy protects civil liberties and transparency. Critics argue it risks turning Boston into a hostile environment for federal law enforcement at a time when ICE claims it is removing violent offenders from the streets.

Either way, the message from City Hall was unmistakable.

Boston is not backing down — and if federal agents operate here, Wu wants the public watching.