Immigration hearing being held for Milford High School student detained by ICE
A Milford High School student who was detained by ICE during a recent traffic stop is slated to face a judge in immigration court in Chelmsford.
Marcelo Gomes Da Silva's court appearance will come after ICE filed a petition to move the 18-year-old to the Wyatt facility in Rhode Island, which was denied by a federal judge on Wednesday.
The filing states that immigration authorities have not been able to secure a bed at the Burlington, Massachusetts, facility where Gomes Da Silva is currently being held. Gomes Da Silva's lawyer, Robin Nice, warned that this could affect his scheduled hearing at immigration court and violates his due process rights.
Marcelo Gomes da Silvia was on his way to volleyball practice on Saturday when immigration officers detained him, but they say they were looking for his father, João Paulo Gomes Pereira.
ICE officials have alleged that he is wanted for speeding 100 miles an hour through residential areas. Marcelo was driving his father's car when he was pulled over.
'When we go out into the community, and we find others who are unlawfully here, we are going to arrest them. We've been completely transparent with that. He's 18 years old, he is unlawfully in this country,' said Patricia Hyde, Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement.
Nice argued that while the student-athlete doesn't have current lawful status, he did enter the country lawfully.
'He doesn't have current lawful status right now, but he did enter lawfully, he has no criminal record, so it does not, his situation does not at all fit into the narrative that ICE is putting out there that only criminals are being targeted,' Nice said.
Boston 25 News found one record in the courts of a citation issued for Gomes Pereira in July of 2023 — court records show Milford Police cited him for failing to yield to a stop sign and driving with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender. Sources familiar with his driving record tell 25 Investigates that he has had 16 driving-related citations since 2014.
The teen's mother and father are desperate for their son to return home soon.
'I love Marcelo, we need Marcelo back home. It's no family without him. We love America, please bring my son back,' his father said in a video message.
A family spokesperson said Marcelo Gomes da Silvia has been transferred to a Plymouth ICE facility and that there are concerns about his health because he hasn't been eating and has been sleeping on the floor.
Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino says the department was not involved in this operation.
'I am not accusing any agency of doing anything wrong, I am just saying we're a small community and I think these things come better if the local police can run the investigation because we know the players, we know the people,' said Tusino.
The immigration hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. A rally in support of Marcelo Gomes da Silvia is set to be held at 3 p.m.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
43 minutes ago
- Fox News
False rumors of Minneapolis ICE raid spark protest as police decry 'irresponsible' info from elected officials
A chaotic protest in Minneapolis during which federal agents were seen getting physical with demonstrators unfolded as elected officials posted "highly irresponsible" information online suggesting a criminal search warrant was an ICE operation, police say. Tense moments were captured on video Tuesday as federal agents and the public clashed in the streets of the major city, with Minnesota State Sen. Omar Fateh claiming on Facebook, "On scene are DHS, ICE, FBI, Sheriffs, and MPD" in what he described as "blatant fascism on display." In a follow-up post, Fateh said, "While the Mayor has told us ICE is not welcome in our city, what residents saw was their deployment assisted by his MPD." However, the federal operation focusing on a Mexican restaurant actually "was related to a criminal search warrant for drugs and money laundering and was not related to immigration enforcement" and "No arrests were made," according to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. "The information that came out on social media from elected officials was highly irresponsible," Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said Wednesday. "There were ways for them to have accurate information and instead of getting accurate information, being impulsive and putting out things that could potentially incite riots is senseless." "Yesterday's incident was a criminal investigation," she added. "So putting out the rhetoric that that was a raid, it was not a raid. Putting out the rhetoric that it was an immigration enforcement, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office does not participate in immigration enforcement. Elected officials have a responsibility to the constituents to put out accurate information. They don't have to agree with it, but do not mislead the public, causing more harm to our communities." Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara added, "Ultimately, you can say what you want and point fingers and blame people for different things, how it happened, whether they should or shouldn't have or whatever, but the bottom line is if a tragedy happened at Lake and Bloom yesterday, it doesn't matter who is at fault. The community loses. The feds lose. We all lose, and we are left behind. "The feds can leave, we are left behind to deal with the consequences," O'Hara continued. "And what I saw yesterday as they were trying to leave, aside from just the verbal things that were being said, but with things being thrown at them — in some cases heavily-armed federal agents getting into hand-to-hand situations with people who are protesting — is not good." Video clips showed protesters screaming at the federal agents. In one scene, a masked man wearing an ATF Police uniform tossed a demonstrator to the ground after he tried to get in front of a van that was leaving the area. "Trump has created an environment of understandable fear, created an atmosphere where distrust isn't just a norm. In fact, sometimes it's appropriate," Frey told reporters Thursday while speaking alongside Witt and O'Hara. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Jamie Holt, the ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge for St. Paul, said, "Federal investigators conducted a groundbreaking criminal operation today — Minnesota's first under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) umbrella — marking a new chapter in how we confront complex, multidimensional threats. "From drug smuggling to criminal labor trafficking, this operation showcases the breadth of our collective missions and the strength of a united front," the statement added, noting that "This HSI led investigation wouldn't have been possible without the extraordinary collaboration of our state partners and federal HSTF partners." Witt told reporters on Wednesday, "It is not okay for people to obstruct law enforcement when we are trying to obtain evidence." "It's not okay to try to prevent them from leaving. It is not okay," she added. "It did not look good — I get that — and we will deal with some of the things that happened that even I don't agree with, which is why I have an appointment already set up with some of our federal leaders. That could have been done better."
Fox News
43 minutes ago
- Fox News
ICE sweeps through LA businesses as local Democrats cry foul over Trump administration's enforcement actions
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out operations at businesses across Los Angeles on Friday, sparking protests and clashes outside at least one location, which resulted in authorities throwing flash bangs in an effort to disperse the crowd. The Associated Press reported that immigration advocates confirmed at least 45 people were arrested across seven locations. The locations included two Home Depot stores, a store in the fashion district and a doughnut shop, according to Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), who spoke at an afternoon news conference to denounce the actions. Videos of the operations taken by bystanders and TV news crews showed people being escorted across a Home Depot parking lot by federal agents. The videos also captured clashes between protesters and federal agents at detention sites. KTLA shared aerial footage of agents outside a clothing store in the fashion district escorting individuals out of a building and toward two large white vans. The individuals were detained and had their hands tied behind their backs. Before being placed into the vans, agents were seen patting the detained individuals down. Agents executing the operations wore vests bearing FBI, ICE and HSI (Homeland Security Investigations). In one video, officers were seen throwing smoke bombs and flash bangs onto the street to get people to disperse, so the authorities could drive away in vans, SUVs and military-style vehicles. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the operations executed in Los Angeles on Friday. HSI spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe told the Los Angeles Times that federal agents were executing search warrants relating to the harboring of people illegally in the country. Still, local and state officials raised issues with the federal agencies' actions on Friday. "Our community is under attack and is being terrorized. These are workers, these are fathers, these are mothers, and this has to stop," Salas said while being surrounded by a crowd holding signs protesting ICE. "Immigration enforcement that is terrorizing our families throughout this country and picking up our people that we love must stop now." While police were spotted on the scene, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Jim McDonnell said his officers were not involved in civil immigration enforcement. "Today the LAPD became aware that federal law enforcement agencies conducted activities in the City of Los Angeles. I'm aware that these actions cause anxiety for many Angelenos, so I want to make it clear: the LAPD is not involved in civil immigration enforcement," the chief said in a statement posted on X. "While the LAPD will continue to have a visible presence in all our communities to ensure public safety, we will not assist or participate in any sort of mass deportations, nor will the LAPD try to determine an individual's immigration status." McDonnell also said a policy in place since 1979 has barred police officers from initiating law enforcement action simply to determine a person's immigration status. Instead, he added, the LAPD remains focused on initiatives that improve the quality of life for all city residents, regardless of immigration status. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement on X that as a mayor of a "proud city of immigrants," who she said contributes to the city in many ways, she was "deeply angered" by the actions taken by federal agencies in LA on Friday. "These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city," Bass said. "We will not stand for this." Bass also spoke to reporters on Friday, saying, "We are gonna fight for all Angelenos, regardless of when they got here, whether they have papers or not. We are a city of immigrants and this impacts hundreds of thousands of Angelenos." Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., called the ICE raids across Los Angeles a continuation of a "disturbing pattern of extreme and cruel" immigration enforcement operations across the U.S. "These indiscriminate raids prove once again that the Trump administration cares about nothing but instilling harm and fear in our communities to drive immigrants into the shadows," he said in a statement shared on X. "It will not work. This fearmongering is not going to change the fact that immigrants are valued members of our communities who contribute to our society and economy, and my office will demand accountability for today's actions."
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Officers throw flash bangs to disperse crowd protesting immigration enforcement in Los Angeles
Federal immigration authorities carried out enforcement activities at businesses across Los Angeles on Friday, prompting clashes outside at least one location as authorities threw flash bangs to try to disperse a crowd that had gathered in protest. Immigration advocates confirmed at least 45 people were arrested without warrants across seven locations, including two Home Depots, a store in the fashion district and a doughnut shop, said Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, at an afternoon press conference denouncing the activity. Federal immigration authorities have been ramping up arrests across the country to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations. Todd Lyons, the head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, defended his tactics earlier this week against criticism that authorities are being too heavy-handed. He has said ICE is averaging about 1,600 arrests per day and that the agency has arrested 'dangerous criminals.' Protests recently broke out after an immigration action at a restaurant in San Diego and in Minneapolis when federal officials in tactical gear showed up in a Latino neighborhood for an operation they said was about a criminal case, not immigration. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass said the activity was meant to 'sow terror.' 'As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city,' Bass said. Salas, of CHIRLA, echoed that language. 'Our community is under attack and is being terrorized. These are workers, these are fathers, these are mothers, and this has to stop. Immigration enforcement that is terrorizing our families throughout this country and picking up our people that we love must stop now,' Salas said, surrounded by a crowd holding signs protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE declined to discuss the details of its operations. The agency said it routinely makes arrests of noncitizens 'who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws,' said an emailed statement from an unnamed spokesperson. Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of ICE, told the Los Angeles Times that federal agents were executing search warrants related to the harboring of people illegally in the country. In Los Angeles, videos from bystanders and television news crews captured people being walked across a Home Depot parking lot by federal agents as well as clashes that broke out at other detention sites. KTLA showed aerial footage of agents outside a clothing store in the fashion district leading detainees out of a building and toward two large white vans waiting just outside in a parking lot. The hands of the detained individuals were tied behind their backs. The agents patted them down before loading them into the vans. The agents wore vests with the agency acronyms FBI, ICE and HSI for Homeland Security Investigations. Armed agents used yellow police tape to keep crowds on the street and sidewalk away from the operations. Aerial footage of the same location broadcast by KABC-TV showed officers throwing smoke bombs or flash bangs on the street to disperse the people so they could drive away in SUVs, vans and military-style vehicles. The station showed one person running backward with their hands on the hood of a moving white SUV in an apparent attempt to block the vehicle. The person fell backward, landing flat on the ground. The SUV backed up, drove around the individual and sped off as others on the street threw objects at it. Immigrant-rights advocates used megaphones to speak to the workers, reminding them of their constitutional rights and instructing them not to sign anything or say anything to federal agents, the Los Angeles Times reported. Katia Garcia, 18, left school when she learned her father, 37-year-old Marco Garcia, may have been targeted. Katia Garcia, a US citizen, said her father is undocumented and has been in the US for 20 years. 'We never thought this would happen to us,' she told the Los Angeles Times. Eleven of the LA City Council's 15 members issued a statement accusing federal immigration agencies of 'an egregious escalation.' 'This indiscriminate targeting of children and families not only harms the individuals who are directly impacted, but destroys our communities' sense of trust and safety in their own homes,' the statement said.
