Protests Erupt After Massachusetts High School Student Detained by ICE

Protests Erupt After Massachusetts High School Student Detained by ICE

MILFORD, MA — A wave of protests has erupted in Milford and across Massachusetts following the detention of 18-year-old high school student Marcelo Gomes da Silva by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents over the weekend. Gomes da Silva, a junior at Milford High School, was taken into custody Saturday while reportedly on his way to volleyball practice.

According to ICE officials, the Brazilian-born teen was not the target of the operation, but a collateral arrest made during an enforcement action aimed at his father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira. ICE stated the father was being sought for repeated reckless driving incidents exceeding speeds of 100 mph. At the time of the arrest, Gomes da Silva was driving his father’s vehicle.

ICE Acting Field Director Patricia Hyde defended the arrest, stating, “When we go out into the community and we find others who are unlawfully here, we are going to arrest them… He’s 18 years old. He’s unlawfully in this country.” ICE officials confirmed the teen’s visa, obtained in 2012, had since expired.

Outrage over the arrest has been swift and widespread. On Sunday, community members gathered at Milford Town Hall to demand Gomes da Silva’s release. On Monday, classmates staged a large walkout from Milford High School, holding signs reading “Free Marcelo” and calling attention to what they view as a deeply unjust action against a peer with no criminal history.

Marcelo’s attorney filed a habeas corpus petition Sunday, noting that he has lived in the U.S. for over a decade and is eligible to apply for asylum. The filing states he has no prior legal issues and emphasizes his strong ties to the community.

A federal judge responded to the petition by issuing an emergency order blocking the teen’s removal from the country or transfer out of Massachusetts for at least 72 hours. A second order on Monday mandated that ICE provide at least 48 hours’ notice and justification before moving him out of the state.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a strong rebuke of ICE’s actions, stating on social media, “I’m disturbed and outraged… Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads-up and no answers to their questions.” Healey said her office is demanding immediate clarification on the teen’s location, legal status, and due process rights.

The Milford Public School District also released a statement expressing concern. Superintendent Kevin McIntyre emphasized the district’s support for immigrant students and reiterated that the school system does not participate in immigration enforcement. “They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors,” he said.

As of Monday evening, Marcelo Gomes da Silva remains in ICE custody, with his exact location not publicly disclosed. According to his legal team, he is believed to be held at a field office in Burlington, Massachusetts.

The incident has sparked statewide debate over immigration enforcement practices, youth protections, and the role of ICE in community life — especially in schools. Advocates and lawmakers are now calling for increased oversight, policy reform, and protections for undocumented students caught in immigration raids.