Boston, MA - This afternoon, federal officials announced the arrest of an Iranian national in Natick Massachusetts for export violations and providing material support to Iran. These charges are tied to a fatal drone strike that killed three U.S. service members and injured over 40 others. One of the individuals responsible sought sanctuary in Massachusetts.

MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale responded to the disturbing arrests, stating:

“The language used by Massachusetts Democratic leaders in describing our state as a sanctuary to the international community and that they won’t cooperate with federal authorities, sends a dangerous signal to bad actors around the world. It tells them that Massachusetts is a safe haven where they can evade prosecution from the United States federal government.”

“It’s time for the Healey-Driscoll Administration to stand with the people of Massachusetts and declare that our state will no longer serve as a sanctuary for criminals whether they’re here legally or illegally. For the safety and security of our communities, Massachusetts must send a clear message: there is no sanctuary for international criminals in our Commonwealth,” Carnevale concluded.