In a move that has sparked community uproar and political concern, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement defended the arrest of an 18-year-old Massachusetts high school student as he was headed to volleyball practice. Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, a Brazilian who has lived in the United States since 2012, was taken into custody following a traffic stop in the Boston suburb of Milford.
Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, made clear the agency’s position: “He’s in this country illegally and we’re not going to walk away from anybody.” Despite Gomes not being the target of the original investigation, which sought his father who remains at large, Lyons emphasized that once an individual is found without legal status, ICE moves in.
The arrest ignited protests in Milford and drew condemnation from local officials, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who described the situation as “disturbing and outrageous.” The student’s lawyer echoed these sentiments, criticizing the agency for detaining a young person with no criminal record and warning it only spreads fear within immigrant communities.
Meanwhile, a federal judge has temporarily blocked efforts to move Gomes out of Massachusetts while a legal battle unfolds over his detention. The lawsuit contends Gomes originally entered on a student visa, which expired, but asserts his intention to seek asylum.
As ICE continues its intensified enforcement campaign in the region—reportedly arresting nearly 1,500 individuals last month alone—questions about the human cost of these policies resonate beyond the courtroom and into the halls of high schools and homes across the state.
