Puerto Rico’s smug sanctuary status is crushed by ICE; fear mongers warn ‘they appear and snatch people’

The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has long been a ‘sanctuary’ for illegal aliens, but that is coming to an end.

“They appear and snatch people,” Pastor Nilka Marrero who has been railing against deportations said, according to the Hill.

For decades illegal immigrants have felt safe in Puerto Rico with some opening bank accounts and business, and were even able to obtain “special” drivers licenses, according the Hill.

But on Jan. 26, 2025, that all began to change when the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “raided” a popular Dominican community and reportedly arrested those who were found to be non-citizens.

US ICE agents are arresting and deporting Dominican citizens from Puerto Rico as part of Trump’s ordered deportation wave. Due to the island’s colonial status, Puerto Ricans have no sovereignty over immigration policy in their homeland. pic.twitter.com/Nx6FfrqYV5

— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 28, 2025

Over 200 people have been arrested since Jan. 26, nearly all men, according to The Hill. At least 55,000 Dominicans live in Puerto Rico with around 20,000 having the “special” driver’s licenses. It’s unclear how many total Dominicans are living there illegally, but 149 of the 200 arrests were allegedly Dominican natives.

Pastor Marrero whose congregation is made up of many illegal migrants is allegedly hosting volunteers to prepare food for immigrants too afraid to leave their homes.

“They’re panicking,” said José Rodríguez, president of the Dominican Committee of Human Rights. “They’re afraid to go out; they’re afraid to take their children to school.”

Republican Gov. Jennifer Gonzalez has warned that the island can’t “afford” to ignore President Trump’s directives, citing federal funds that could be at risk, The Hill reported.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos said: “This operation is part of ongoing enforcement under the Presidential Executive Order, to combat illegal immigration across Puerto Rico. Local enforcement partnerships are key to… pic.twitter.com/t6UlNlsNZy

— HSI San Juan (@HSISanJuan) March 19, 2025

Several local mayors are bucking Gonzalez’s warning, including San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero who is allegedly offering legal aid for illegals.

Julio Roldán Concepción, mayor of a coastal town, called for empathy.

“Any undocumented migrant can come by city hall if they need help,” he said. “I am not going to ask to see papers to give it to them. … We are all brothers here.”

Rodriguez claims that federal agents have since spread throughout the island since January, searching for illegal aliens.

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