ICE ‘Grabbing People Out of Their Cars’ on Martha’s Vineyard

Federal agents stormed Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket in a surprise crackdown Tuesday that left islanders horrified as they watched masked officers rip people from their vehicles in broad daylight. Nearly 40 individuals were arrested during the aggressive immigration sweep, which residents say looked more like a military-style raid than a public safety operation.

Unmarked Cars. Masked Men. Screaming Locals.

From early morning to late afternoon, witnesses described a terrifying scene playing out on the quiet island roads: blacked-out SUVs with government plates, federal agents in tactical gear, and terrified drivers being hauled out of work vans and family cars with no warning.

“They were just pulling people out of their cars like it was a war zone,” said one woman who witnessed multiple arrests near Vineyard Haven. “No sirens, no warning. Just masked men with guns and badges swarming the roads.”

Videos flooded social media showing agents stopping vans on Barnes Road, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, and other major routes, with drivers forced to the pavement and questioned for immigration paperwork. One widely circulated video showed a man being pulled from an L&R Electrical Services van by an FBI agent in tactical gear.

Thiago Alves, the owner of the Rhode Island-based company, confirmed one of his workers was interrogated.

“They questioned my guys like criminals,” Alves said. “He has a green card. They let him go, but they were ready to take him.”

A Dragnet Across the Islands

The coordinated operation was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with backup from the FBI and DEA. But ICE is offering few details about who was arrested—or why. They confirmed only that among the 40 people detained was an MS-13 gang member and a convicted child sex offender.

Everyone else? Silent.

“They didn’t even tell us how many were arrested on the Vineyard,” said one local official. “We found out on Facebook like everyone else.”

Local police departments were left completely out of the loop. Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle said his officers weren’t notified and had no role in the operation.

“We weren’t involved,” Searle said. “We don’t do immigration. That’s not our jurisdiction.”

Coast Guard Used to Ship Detainees Off-Island

By mid-afternoon, the operation took an even darker turn. Federal agents moved detainees to the Menemsha Coast Guard station, where they were loaded onto a cutter and ferried off the Island like prisoners of war.

A crowd of furious Islanders gathered at the dock, shouting at agents as they moved in and out of the facility.

“You should be ashamed of yourselves!” one woman yelled as a group of armed agents walked past.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Tyler Vanderhaden emerged to calm the crowd.

“We’re just following orders,” he said. “We were told to support the mission.”

Immigrant Families Paralyzed by Fear

The impact was immediate and chilling. Schools began issuing emergency notices. Parents worried about picking up their kids. Some workers refused to leave their homes.

“We’re being hunted,” said one undocumented worker who asked not to be named. “It’s not just criminals they want—it’s all of us.”

Vineyard public schools sent out emails reminding families that ICE does not have free access to students or school records.

Superintendent Richard Smith tried to reassure parents.

“Our top priority is the safety of our students,” he wrote. “We are following strict protocols to protect your privacy and rights.”

ICE’s New Tactics: No Warnings, No Targets—Just Chaos

Immigration attorney and Island resident Rachel Self says she’s seen this strategy before—and it’s only getting worse.

“Under the previous administration, ICE at least claimed to focus on serious criminals,” she said. “Now they’re going after landscapers, electricians, parents dropping off their kids. They’re going after whoever they can grab.”

Self warned residents to stay vigilant and have a plan.

“If you or a loved one is undocumented—know your rights. Be ready. This is the new reality.”

Panic in Paradise

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, usually idyllic summer retreats, were transformed Tuesday into zones of fear and confusion. As unmarked cars disappeared back onto the ferry and federal agencies went dark, one thing was clear: this was no routine operation.

And for many residents, the images of people being pulled out of vans and hauled away in front of their neighbors will be hard to forget.

“We’re still in shock,” said one woman. “This isn’t who we are. Or at least—I thought it wasn’t.”