Latest news with #MarceloGomes
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Milford, Massachusetts teen arrested by ICE "extremely happy" to be released
Marcelo Gomes, the Milford, Massachusetts teenager who was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice was released from custody after he was granted bond Thursday afternoon. "I'm extremely happy," Gomes told reporters. Gomes was being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Burlington since his arrest six days ago. At a hearing Wednesday, a judge ruled Gomes could be released on $2,000 bond. "That place, it's not good. It's not good," Gomes said. "Ever since I got here, they had me in handcuffs." Conditions inside ICE field office He said he has not showered in six days, had crackers for lunch and dinner, slept on a concrete floor and had to use the bathroom in front of 40 other men. Marcelo Gomes speaks to journalists after being released from detention on bond. Rodrique Ngowi / AP Gomes, an 18-year-old junior at Milford High School, is originally from Brazil. He was arrested on May 31 by ICE agents who were looking for his father. Gomes's student visa expired several years ago. "Nobody should be in here," Gomes said. "Most people in there are all workers. They all got caught going to work. These people have families." He said he served as a translator for the other men in the room and cried when he informed them that their paperwork said they were being deported. "I just felt embarrassed for everybody there," Gomes said. Gomes said the people he was with don't deserve to be there. "They have kids to go home to and there is like genuine criminals out there that people aren't giving attention to," Gomes said. Grateful for support, defends father Students in Milford have held rallies and walkouts in support of Gomes. He said he was unaware because he didn't have a TV while he was in custody. "I'm very grateful for all the support, more than anything in this world," Gomes said. Gomes' father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, is still wanted by ICE. Gomes defended his dad, saying he is a good person. "I heard a lot of people talk bad about my dad but if you want to talk bad about my dad, you have to talk bad about me because he raised me," Gomes said. "And if I have so much support from everyone from my town, then he doesn't deserve any hate because I was raised from him. Like everything I got was from my dad."
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Milford, Massachusetts teen held by ICE faces first deportation hearing Thursday
Marcelo Gomes, the Milford, Massachusetts teenager detained by ICE last weekend, will have his first deportation hearing Thursday afternoon. Gomes, an 18-year-old junior at Milford High School, is originally from Brazil. He has been held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Burlington since his arrest on May 31. Agents were looking for his father, but when they found Gomes's student visa had expired several years ago, he was taken into custody. The introductory hearing at 1 p.m. in Chelmsford Thursday will start the deportation process. Gomes will appear via video from Burlington. The judge could decide that Gomes can be released from custody during the process. If he's granted bail, and can post it, he would be allowed to leave the Burlington office. Gomes met with his two attorneys in person for the first time Wednesday evening. They said he described the conditions in the Burlington office as "abhorrent" and that he's been sleeping on the floor and has had little food. ICE wanted to move Gomes to a detention center in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where they said a bed was available, but his attorneys opposed it and a judge agreed. Gomes was driving to volleyball practice with some of his teammates Saturday morning in his father's car when he was pulled over by several ICE agents. Gomes was detained immediately because of the lapsed visa. His attorney Robin Nice said Gomes came to the U.S. lawfully from Brazil when he was 7 years old and should not be detained. Gomes's father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, is still wanted by ICE. He appeared in a video with his family earlier this week, pleading for ICE to release his son.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Massachusetts teen detained by ICE describes conditions as "abhorrent," attorney says
Attorneys for the Milford teenager who was detained over the weekend met with him at the ICE field office in Burlington, Massachusetts where he's been held since he was taken into custody. "He has a cold. He is describing conditions he is in as being abhorrent and frankly embarrassing for our country," said attorney Robin Nice. Milford teen taken to hospital Gomes' attorneys said he has had little food, is sleeping on the floor because the field office is out of beds, and was taken to the hospital Tuesday for concerns he had a concussion. "He is very tired. He is not sleeping well," said Attorney Miriam Conrad. "The lights are on all night long. He is not getting any fresh air or natural sunlight." Marcelo Gomes Gomes family photo Marcelo Gomes, 18, of Milford, was driving his father's car when ICE pulled him over on Saturday. Gomes' attorneys tell WBZ-TV he entered the country legally when he was seven, but that visa has expired. In a briefing on Monday, federal immigration officials said Gomes is in the United States illegally and revealed Gomes' father was their intended target. Joao-Paulo Gomes-Pereira made a plea directly to ICE alongside Marcelo's mother and siblings, in a video message first obtained by WBZ-TV. Asked about volleyball, finals week "He wanted to know the result of the volleyball team's match yesterday," said Nice. "He asked about his finals schedule because he is in finals week for school. Things a teenage kid would be concerned about." Nice will lead the efforts Thursday, when Gomes makes his first appearance in immigration court. That's where she will file a petition for his release with the goal of being granted bail. "This kid has no criminal record," said Nice. "He has never been in detention or suspended from school, he is the poster child of what you want your kids to grow up and become." If Gomes is granted bail on Thursday, the case against him would move forward. Nice said immigration courts are backlogged, and it could take years for his case to run its course. Gomes, according to his attorneys, would be able to pursue multiple avenues to gain asylum or change his immigration status as his case progresses.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Milford teen detained by ICE had expired student visa. Attorney says renewal can be overwhelming.
Students at Stacey Middle School rallied in support of Marcelo Gomes, an 18-year-old Milford High School student who was arrested by ICE agents over the weekend while on his way to volleyball practice. Hundreds of students gathered outside of the school and chanted "Free Marcelo." Gomes, who was in the United States on an expired student visa, has become the focal point of a growing conversation in Milford surrounding immigration policy and enforcement. Community members say his arrest has sent shockwaves through the town and raised concerns over how undocumented immigrants are treated. Now, some of his closest friends are speaking out about the type of person he is. Marcelo Gomes Gomes family photo "Every single day at school, at volleyball, wherever he went - he had a smile on his face and was always looking to uplift others," said Ava Merill, a friend of Gomes. His best friend and neighbor, Tyler Neuman, described Gomes as someone who pushed himself academically and socially. "He started taking APs, he started getting more and more involved," Neuman said. "I just watched him progress and progress. Not only become a better athlete, but a better drummer, a better friend, and a better student." Visa renewal process The case has also raised questions over the student visa process and why many immigrants let their visas expire. Immigration attorney Kailin Wu explained that the renewal process is often times overwhelming, particularly due to fears of detention. "They're being much more proactive about if you show up and you do not have proper status and you are subject to mandatory detention, they will call ICE," Wu said. "I think that's also sparking a lot of fear in people. When you do get that interview notice, some people are just choosing not to show up for it because they fear being detained." Wu added that individuals with expired visas may face penalties when trying to renew, including triggering bans on visas of three to ten years depending on the length of unlawful presence in the country. He advises that anyone nearing the end of a visa seek out an immigration attorney to help them navigate the process. As Gomes remains in ICE custody, students and community members in Milford continue to advocate on his behalf. Many argue that the teen, known for his positive energy and dedication, does not deserve to be detained.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Family of Massachusetts teen detained by ICE pleads for his return, "No family without him."
Family of Massachusetts teen detained by ICE pleads for his safe return Family of Massachusetts teen detained by ICE pleads for his safe return Family of Massachusetts teen detained by ICE pleads for his safe return The family of 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes of Milford, Massachusetts is pleading with immigration officials to release the high school junior. Gomes, who is originally from Brazil, was driving to volleyball practice Saturday morning when he was pulled over and taken into custody by several ICE agents. In a video released by the family's attorney Tuesday night, Marcelo's parents asked ICE to free their son. "Please bring my son back" "Please bring my son back. I miss my son so much," Marcelo's mother said in the video. "I Miss my son inside my home. I need to hug my son." ICE said the target of the operation was Marcelo's father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, who appeared in the video. "Hello ICE. My name is Joao Paulo, Marcelo's father," he said. Marcelo Gomes was detained by ICE in Milford, Massachusetts. Gomes family photo "I love my son. We need Marcelo back home, it's no family without him," Marcelo's father said. "We love America. Please bring my son back." Marcelo's younger siblings also asked for his return. "When he gets back, I'm going to give him a really big hug," Marcelo's brother said. "But ICE, please get him out. Please." Gomes is being held at an ICE detention center in Burlington, Massachusetts and will have a hearing in this case on Thursday afternoon. Gomes's attorney, Robin Nice, said he entered the country when he was 7 years old in 2013 on a visitor visa, which later changed to an international visa, and that has subsequently lapsed. A spokesperson for the Gomes family told WBZ he's in a facility without beds, has been given little food, mostly crackers, and has caught some sort of virus. Support for Marcelo at volleyball game At the Milford High School volleyball game Tuesday night, hundreds of people wore white in support of the junior who was not on the court. "People were screaming, people were clapping," said Ben Pezza, Gomes's classmate. "It was probably one of the best games I have seen at Milford High." The community has been rocked by the arrest. There are signs of support all around town on cars, T-shirts and they lined the walls of the gym too. "It's honestly really sad to see how this is happening and it's honestly really touching because he is really great," said student Mellany De Silva. "For me to hear the news about him being locked up and stuff. It's like why? He didn't do anything wrong. I just love him. He is my friend," said student Aloyie Okhipo.
