Residents of Milford protesting against ICE, showing their support for a local student detained during a traffic stop.
The arrest of 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes by ICE while heading to volleyball practice has sparked significant outrage in Milford, MA. Governor Maura Healey demands answers from ICE, expressing her outrage at the detention of a student who was not the intended target. This incident has caused unrest within the community, leading to protests and raising concerns about immigration enforcement impacts on families and students. Local leaders have criticized ICE actions, calling for more humane treatment of immigrant communities and questioning the focus of federal enforcement.
Milford, MA – Outrage has erupted in Milford following the arrest of 18-year-old high school junior Marcelo Gomes by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while he was on his way to volleyball practice. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has demanded answers from ICE regarding the circumstances surrounding Gomes’ detention, expressing her “disturbance and outrage” at the situation.
The arrest occurred over the weekend when Gomes was driving his father’s car. ICE had been pursuing the vehicle in connection with a search for Gomes’ father, who is illegally present in the United States. Upon stopping the vehicle, ICE officers determined that Gomes was also unlawfully present, leading to his arrest, despite being an unintended target of their investigation.
In the wake of the arrest, community members rallied together in protest, chanting “Free Marcelo” and expressing their anger towards ICE’s actions. The protests underscore a growing concern within the Milford community regarding the impact of immigration enforcement on local families and students.
Milford Public Schools Superintendent Kevin McIntyre stated that the school district does not assist in immigration enforcement and expresses support for immigrant students and their families. Gomes has been a part of the Milford school system since he was six years old and has garnered a reputation as an outstanding student. He serves as a coaching assistant for the girls’ volleyball team, plays for the boys’ volleyball team, and is a member of the school band.
Gomes was scheduled to perform at a graduation ceremony with the school band the day following his arrest, and his absence has significantly impacted his classmates, highlighting the personal toll of such enforcement actions. The arrest has provoked deep feelings of fear and uncertainty in the community, with community members recalling that other local residents have also faced detention by ICE in recent weeks.
U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss has voiced his support for the protests and criticized the administration’s focus on detaining students instead of addressing more serious criminal offenders. Governor Healey has placed blame on the previous Trump administration for fostering fear through such aggressive enforcement strategies, claiming they make communities less safe. She has called for a thorough examination of ICE’s operations and the impact they have on local families and communities.
ICE held a press conference during which they reported nearly 1,500 arrests over the past month as part of their initiative known as “Operation Patriot.” They defend their actions by asserting they are necessary for public safety, despite the evident pushback from the communities they operate in. ICE officials have claimed that sanctuary policies in various cities necessitate their involvement in community operations to pursue individuals unlawfully present in the country.
A teammate of Gomes, who witnessed the arrest, expressed shock and disbelief, noting the close-knit nature of the Milford community and the distress this incident has caused among students and residents alike. The broader implications of such enforcement actions raise questions about the treatment of immigrant communities and the priorities of federal agents in relation to local safety and community cohesion.
As the situation develops, the community of Milford is left grappling with the consequences of Gomes’ arrest, a development that has not only disrupted the life of one student but has also stirred broader concerns about immigration enforcement and its ramifications on family integrity and local safety.
News Summary Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an 18-year-old high school junior in Milford, was detained…
News Summary A chaotic protest erupted in Worcester, MA, on May 8, 2025, following the…
News Summary The State Police Department in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, will implement a sobriety checkpoint…
News Summary The Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a significant bill aimed at reorganizing…
News Summary The Massachusetts House has unanimously passed a significant cannabis reform bill, H 4187,…
News Summary The Massachusetts House unanimously passed a cannabis reform bill that restructures the Cannabis…