Sports
Mass. high school student detained by ICE, district officials say
An 18-year-old Massachusetts high school student was detained by federal immigration agents this weekend, school officials confirmed. The Milford High School student was detained by ICE agents somewhere off-campus, officials wrote in a statement. They did not immediately confirm the student’s name or where the incident occurred. However, friends say the student’s first name is Marcelo, but they did not provide a last name to NewsCenter 5. They said Marcelo was detained by agents while driving to volleyball practice Saturday morning.Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey responded to the arrest, demanding to know more information about why Marcello was arrested and his location. “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,” 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.” Milford Superintendent Kevin McIntyre said the district has no role in immigration enforcement operations and that the district supports immigrant families in the same way as all others. “We have also had a number of parents who have been detained by ICE in recent weeks. We are all distraught by this news,” McIntyre said in a statement. “They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors. We will do everything in our power to support our students and families during these difficult times.”Marcelo’s girlfriend, Julianys Rentas, says she can’t believe her boyfriend is currently in ICE detention. “He told me he had chains around his ankles, he had chains around his wrists,” Rentas said. “He’s in a cell with 30 other men. He’s the only 18-year-old there, he’s the youngest there. He is not a criminal. He’s a member of this community and has never done anything wrong.”Friends and family say Milford is the only home their loved one has ever known, moving to the town at just 6 years old. “To just separate him from everybody he knows — like his whole life, just because he wasn’t born here — it’s not right,” said Marcelo’s cousin Ana Julia Araujo.Friends like Colin Greco say the community is devastated at Marcelo’s detainment. “When we got the news that he was taken into custody, we were all heartbroken,” Greco said. “People were crying. Other people just didn’t know what to say. No words were exchanged in the locker room. People just parted ways after that.”Marcelo’s volleyball coach, Andrew Mainini, echoed similar sentiments about the high school junior. “Our athlete, who was detained, may be the friendliest person in the school. Every day, no matter how he felt, he always had a smile on his face,” Mainini said. “He was not only happy himself. He made other people smile.”Milford Police Chief Rob Tunsio said his department learned about the arrest from the school district. He said that local officers were not involved but are now looking into the situation.Milford High School’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for Sunday morning.A peaceful protest is planned for Sunday afternoon at Milford Town Hall. WCVB reached out to federal agents for more information on Marcelo’s arrest but has yet to hear back.
An 18-year-old Massachusetts high school student was detained by federal immigration agents this weekend, school officials confirmed.
The Milford High School student was detained by ICE agents somewhere off-campus, officials wrote in a statement. They did not immediately confirm the student’s name or where the incident occurred.
However, friends say the student’s first name is Marcelo, but they did not provide a last name to NewsCenter 5. They said Marcelo was detained by agents while driving to volleyball practice Saturday morning.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey responded to the arrest, demanding to know more information about why Marcello was arrested and his location.
“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,” 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.”
Milford Superintendent Kevin McIntyre said the district has no role in immigration enforcement operations and that the district supports immigrant families in the same way as all others.
“We have also had a number of parents who have been detained by ICE in recent weeks. We are all distraught by this news,” McIntyre said in a statement. “They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors. We will do everything in our power to support our students and families during these difficult times.”
Marcelo’s girlfriend, Julianys Rentas, says she can’t believe her boyfriend is currently in ICE detention.
“He told me he had chains around his ankles, he had chains around his wrists,” Rentas said. “He’s in a cell with 30 other men. He’s the only 18-year-old there, he’s the youngest there. He is not a criminal. He’s a member of this community and has never done anything wrong.”
Friends and family say Milford is the only home their loved one has ever known, moving to the town at just 6 years old.
“To just separate him from everybody he knows — like his whole life, just because he wasn’t born here — it’s not right,” said Marcelo’s cousin Ana Julia Araujo.
Friends like Colin Greco say the community is devastated at Marcelo’s detainment.
“When we got the news that he was taken into custody, we were all heartbroken,” Greco said. “People were crying. Other people just didn’t know what to say. No words were exchanged in the locker room. People just parted ways after that.”
Marcelo’s volleyball coach, Andrew Mainini, echoed similar sentiments about the high school junior.
“Our athlete, who was detained, may be the friendliest person in the school. Every day, no matter how he felt, he always had a smile on his face,” Mainini said. “He was not only happy himself. He made other people smile.”
Milford Police Chief Rob Tunsio said his department learned about the arrest from the school district. He said that local officers were not involved but are now looking into the situation.
Milford High School’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for Sunday morning.
A peaceful protest is planned for Sunday afternoon at Milford Town Hall.
WCVB reached out to federal agents for more information on Marcelo’s arrest but has yet to hear back.