A federal judge blocked government efforts to transfer a Massachusetts teenager who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to Rhode Island.
The individual in question was identified as Milford teen Marcel Gomes da Silva, who is a junior at Milford High School. ICE officers detained the 18-year-old on Saturday while he was driving his father's car on the way to a volleyball practice with his teammates.
Judge Blocks ICE's Efforts To Move Milford Teen to Rhode Island
The actual target of the ICE operation was the teenager's father, who authorities said was an undocumented immigrant who had a history of reckless driving. When they pulled him over, agents questioned the teen and found out that he had an expired visa. The student was born in Brazil but has been living in the United States since he was seven years old.
Gomes da Silva is currently being detained within a holding room in the agency's Burlington field office as there were no available beds at the detention facility. The latest development comes as ICE officials asked a judge to be allowed to transfer the teenager to the detention facility located in Central Falls, Rhode Island, according to CBS News.
The teenager's lawyers opposed the transfer, arguing that it could complicate or delay their client's immigration hearing that is scheduled for Thursday in Chelmsford. They added that the move could be detrimental to Gomes da Silva's health.
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The 18-year-old's hearing on Thursday is an introductory hearing that will start the deportation process, but he also has a bond hearing where a judge is given the power to decide whether or not he can be released from custody.
U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole Jr.'s decision to deny the government's request to transfer the Milford teenager comes after he issued an order on Monday that warned officials not to move Gomes da Silva out of Massachusetts without a 48-hour notification to the court, the Boston Globe reported.
Calls for the Teenage Boy's Release
The teenager's family has also released a video on Wednesday pleading for their loved one to be released from custody. His mother, Daiane Pereira, said, "Please bring my son back, I miss my son so much."
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey also posted a video on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. She said that even ICE officials themselves admitted that the teenager does not have a criminal background and is not considered a threat.
The governor said the agency needs to release the teenager, adding that Gomes da Silva belongs in school and not inside a detention center. She expressed support for the Milford community in calling for the 18-year-old release, as per ABC15 News.
