Leah Foley, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, says ICE agents who are conducting arrests must cover their faces to protect themselves. She added that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's allegations about ICE agents are not true and they're just doing their jobs.

Nearly 1,500 people have been detained in Massachusetts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the last month, the agency said Monday. ICE acting director Todd Lyons told reporters at a news conference in Boston that 1,461 people have been hauled into custody since Operation Patriot began in May.

"I don’t know of any police department that routinely wears masks," Mayor Michelle Wu said when asked about ICE agents hiding their faces.

The 18-year-old was detained while on his way to volleyball practice. His Massachusetts community is demanding his release.

At least 10 people were arrested at check-ins under an ICE monitoring program for immigrants, and an alderman said he was thrown to the ground by agents while protesting the arrests.

In the wake of recent action by masked ICE agents, a new debate over face coverings has ignited in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts law​ prevents local law enforcement from arresting anyone on the basis of their immigration status.