Milford, Massachusetts rallies to support high school student detained by ICE
Members of the community joined students from Milford High School in Massachusetts Sunday in demanding answers after a junior was detained by ICE on his way to volleyball practice on Saturday.
Friends, family and community members rallied in support of Marcelo Gomes, an 18-year-old student.
"He was on his way to volleyball practice and separating him from his family, he's been here for 13 years, this is all he knows. Milford and Massachusetts is all he knows," said Ana Julia Araujo, Gomes' cousin. "It's kind of heartbreaking and Marcelo is such a kind person and he's the last person that this should be happening to, I guess. His siblings are so young and they're asking questions like whether they're ever going to see him again.
Araujo said Gomes is currently being held at an ICE detention center in Burlington and was able to call his parents. She said seeing the community come together and support her cousin brings her and her family hope.
"It makes me really happy. I don't think the community would come together like this for any other person, it shows how special he is."
Students join rally after graduation
Hundreds lined Main Street in support of Gomes, including members of Milford High School's Class of 2025, who marched down the street in their caps and gowns after graduation to join the rally. Gomes is a member of the school band and was set to play the drums at the graduation ceremony.
"Marcelo was a good kid. He was excited for his future, he did absolutely nothing wrong. He was innocently going to a practice and he was targeted," said Gomes' girlfriend, Julianys Rentas. She said many students are living in fear of ICE. "There's no pattern so no one knows who is next."
"Our students deserve to feel safe. And they don't feel safe. And arresting some of them traumatizes all of them," said Milford High School English teacher Cherie Peterson, who said she taught Gomes. "I can't imagine how scared he is. He doesn't know how to navigate this system, I wouldn't know how to navigate this system."
The rally lasted a few hours with drivers honking their horns in support as they passed by.
"Devastating this is happening in our community to kids that are good kids going to school and doing good things," said parent Laurie Cunningham.
Rentas told WBZ-TV she knows Gomes is feeling the love.
"I feel really grateful that so many people showed up for Marcelo," said Rentas. "I feel so grateful, God is so good."
Healey demands information from ICE
"I'm disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice yesterday. Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads up and no answers to their questions," Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. "I'm demanding that ICE provide immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is and how his due process is being protected. My heart goes out to the Milford community on what was supposed to be a celebratory graduation day. The Trump Administration continues to create fear in our communities, and it's making us all less safe."
What happened?
A student who was in the car said he and three other students were on their way to volleyball practice when three unmarked vehicles pulled them over. The agents interrogated the students about their documentation and took Gomes, who was driving, into custody. The student who described the event did not want his name released. He said he is also undocumented and was not taken into ICE custody because he is underage.
The student witness said that Gomes did not commit any moving violations and there was no reason for ICE to stop the car.
Town and teachers respond to ICE arrest
Milford Public Schools said ICE had detained several parents of students in recent weeks.
"We are all distraught by this news," Superintendent of Milford Public Schools Kevin McIntyre said in a statement. "The Milford Public Schools play no part in immigration enforcement and support all of our students and families, including those who are immigrants to the United States. They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors."
Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino said his department was unaware of Gomes' detention until after the fact.
"We want an open dialogue with the federal government about who is getting detained, why they're getting detained," said Tusino. "We don't want people just coming into town and being detained or arrested solely because they're here illegally."
"This student should have been at a volleyball practice with his teammates," said Nick Molinari, president of the Milford Teachers Association in a statement. "Instead, ICE agents targeted one of our students in a deliberate act of cruelty, traumatizing his family, friends and peers. This is immoral, unnecessary and should be universally condemned. We will not stand by while the rights and humanity of our students are violated."
