Simón Rios

Boston

Reporter at WBUR-FM (Boston, MA)

WBUR news reporter looking for answers: “Boston, wither goest thou?”

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Articles

Suffolk prosecutors knew ICE would arrest Saugus man on trial, but kept quiet, court recordings show

6 days ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios |Lynn Jolicoeur |Amanda Beland

Suffolk prosecutors knew ICE would arrest Saugus man on trial, but kept quiet, court recordings showCourt recordings reveal what prosecutors and state police knew about the federal agents' plans to arrest an immigrant man standing trial in Boston as he exited the courthouse last month. On Monday, a federal judge dismissed a contempt case against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron, of Saugus, before his case could go before a jury.
Number of families in Mass. emergency shelter down to lowest level since 2023

1 week ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

The number of families in the state's emergency shelters has fallen below 5,000, the lowest level since the summer of 2023. The Healey administration is touting the decrease as the result of policies aimed at reining in the shelter system. “We inherited an Emergency Shelter System that was on an unsustainable path,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.
Contempt case against ICE agent dismissed, but advocates still demand answers

1 week ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

A federal judge has dismissed the contempt case against a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who arrested a man on his way out of a Boston court. The case has drawn in a panoply of local, state and federal officials — testing the ability of local officials to stand up to the Trump administration. The ordeal started last month, when Wilson Martell-Lebron of Saugus was facing trial for allegedly lying on a driver’s license application.
A showdown of prosecutors looms as DA mulls charges against ICE agent

1 week ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

The immigration arrest of a man facing trial in Boston has led to a high-stakes legal showdown, pitting local prosecutors against top federal prosecutors in Massachusetts.
DOJ antisemitism task force to meet Boston officials

2 weeks ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

Representatives of the Trump administration's task force on antisemitism will be in Boston to meet with city officials Wednesday. The group announced last month that it planned to probe how the city has dealt with alleged antisemitic incidents. New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles received similar notices from the task force, which also has taken aim at Harvard and nine other universities.
Suffolk DA lashes out against ICE ' interference' with man's right to trial

3 weeks ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

The Suffolk County District Attorney is criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for interfering in a local prosecution, days after ICE detained a man who was on trial for allegedly lying on a driver’s license form. “Our policy is that we can neither support nor interfere with ICE and the operations of their duties,” DA Kevin Hayden said during a press conference Wednesday.
Jewish students worry Trump's university crackdowns weaponize antisemitism

3 weeks ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

The Trump administration is ramping up actions against universities, students and cities it claims have abided or supported antisemitism. Inside Boston's Jewish community, some welcome the punitive measures, while others see this as an excuse for Trump to defund institutions and restrain free speech. Growing up in Israel, MIT postdoctoral student Yuval Jacobi thought antisemitism was a thing of the past.
With 1 month to leave the U.S., Haitians and others scramble for next steps

3 weeks ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

Until this week, Nickey’s story had all the hallmarks of an American dream in the making. She’s in her second year of community college, works three jobs and serves as a student trustee on the board at her school. Nickey came to the U.S. two years ago from Haiti under a program known as humanitarian parole. She said it was a lifesaver — literally — as it allowed her to get out of a country sinking ever deeper into chaos. Without the program, "I would probably not be where I am right now," she said.
Flurry of ICE raids follow border czar's threats of 'bringing hell' to Boston

1 month ago | wbur.org | Simón Rios

U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan’s threats of "bringing hell" to Boston seemed to materialize over the last week. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Monday that officers had carried out a series of raids in and around Boston, resulting in the apprehensions of 370 people. In a post on X on Monday, Homan said he visited the area March 18 to kick off the operation.
Cambridge city councilor charged with buying sex in high-end brothel ring

1 month ago | wbur.org | Deborah Becker |Simón Rios

A Cambridge city councilor faces charges of buying sex from a high-end brothel ring that operated out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and Virginia. Paul Toner was among 11 men whose cases went before a clerk magistrate in Cambridge Friday for the second in three days of hearings to determine if charges would be filed. Toner has been a Cambridge city councilor since 2022.