Boston: Proudly Uncooperative for over 250 Years

When the president issued an executive order giving the Department of Homeland Security and US Attorney General authority to identify the “lawless jurisdictions” that “refuse to cooperate” with federal immigration laws and hold them accountable, he was talking about Boston. Boston has been proudly uncooperative with tyrants for over 250 years, and we’re not stopping now. We have always and will always reject orders that are unconstitutional and unconscionable. This federal administration might try to threaten and intimidate New England, but we’ve faced rulers who infringe on our liberties before and we’ve always won.

Boston doesn’t back down. When this presidential administration moved to cancel millions of dollars in grants for housing and homelessness prevention in Boston unless we comply with unconstitutional Executive Orders, we fought back. We joined a multi-city lawsuit against the Administration. When this presidential administration announced the termination of CHNV Program (a humanitarian program that allows individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to find a safe home in the United States for two years and pursue a more permanent status), we fought back. Boston led a coalition of cities, counties, and local elected officials from across the country in writing and filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court to stop the termination and protect our neighbors. Let’s not forget that this presidential administration lost 96% of the cases in the federal courts last month.

Last week the DHS secretary said that Boston is “on notice.” Trying to intimidate this city? That’s not how Boston works. For over 250 years we have led the country in standing up against tyrants and defending our liberty. When has anyone ever described Boston as “cooperative”?

Your Humble Servant,

Silence Dogood

June 2, 2025