Milford Teen Released from Immigration Detention Center After Six Days
MILFORD, Mass. (WJAR) — Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an 18-year-old Milford resident, has been reunited with his family after a harrowing six-day experience in a federal immigration detention center. The detention followed an arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were seeking his father but detained Gomes instead. An immigration judge granted him bond during a hearing in Chelmsford, allowing him to return home.
Gomes, a junior at Milford High School, was unaware of his undocumented status, having arrived in the U.S. at age six. Inside the detention center, he faced difficult conditions, including sleeping on concrete floors and limited food, which he often shared with others. Throughout his ordeal, Gomes maintained his faith, saying he prayed and led small prayer sessions with fellow detainees.
Community support was strong, with over 100 people gathering for his court hearing and cheering upon his release. "He deserves to be home where he belongs," said his friend Antonio Peniche. His attorney, Robin Nice, criticized the arrest as a “travesty,” noting that Gomes has a pending asylum application. As he looks to the future, Gomes emphasizes his focus on school and faith. “I always look to God for things,” he stated.
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