Family of Massachusetts teen detained by ICE scared, proud of community response
The family of 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes is speaking out after the Milford High School student was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Saturday while on his way to volleyball practice. Gomes, who is undocumented, remains in ICE custody at a detention facility in Burlington.
"He was telling ICE agents that he's a kid, he needs to go back to school and get his homework done," said Julia Sampaio, Gomes' cousin, who was at the scene of the arrest.
Family scared, looking for answers
Sampaio said at least six or seven ICE agents and multiple unmarked vehicles were involved in the arrest. She was not permitted to speak to her cousin when she arrived, a moment she described as deeply frustrating.
"I wanted answers not for myself but for his family," she said.
Gomes was not the initial target of the operation. ICE was reportedly looking for his father, Jao-Paolo Gomes, whose name the car was registered under. Marcelo's arrest has since spread fear through the family.
"They're scared to leave their homes, they're even scared to walk their dogs or throw their trash out because the moment they step out of their homes they could be detained at any point," Sampaio said.
"Just down the drain"
An underage passenger in the car, who is also undocumented and requested anonymity, shared the emotional toll the experience took on him.
"I think mainly sadness. Sadness that the thought of everything that my parents left behind, everything that my parents sacrificed for in the ten years we've been here," he said. "All of that just gone down the drain. Everything I had personally worked for in my high school career all of that just down the drain."
Since the arrest, ICE agents have reportedly remained outside the Gomes family home.
Despite the fear and uncertainty, the family says they've found strength in the support from the local community, particularly at the rally at town hall on Sunday.
"I was very proud, but also in tears the whole time just seeing how our community came together and fought for the system to change," Sampaio said.
Gomes' case is still developing. Family members and advocates continue to call for his release and broader immigration reform.
Attorney files petition for release
Gomes' attorney, Robin Nice, has filed a petition for his release. A judge has said that ICE must not transport him out of the state for at least 72 hours.
"What are our priorities here? What are we doing? It just makes no sense," Nice said.
Nice said Gomes came to the U.S. lawfully on an F-1 student visa a decade ago and has no criminal record.
"Despite all the rhetoric around coming after people with criminal records, or people who didn't enter lawfully, this is not that guy, and it just shows that that is not actually what is happening," Nice said.
Nice said she has not been able to speak with Gomes directly, and only one member of their team has had contact with him since his detainment.