The Milford High School boys volleyball team took the court for the first time Tuesday evening, since one of its team members was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over the weekend. A judge recently ruled that Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, must be kept in Massachusetts for at least 72 hours, after he was detained by ICE agents while traveling to volleyball practice Saturday morning, according to friends and family. Despite a loss in the highly anticipated playoff game, Milford students said playing the game for Gomes da Silva meant much more than a win. “That game represented the spirit of Marcelo; he was still there,” said Milford senior Aloiye Okhipo. “We made you proud. We did our best. We showed up for him, you know, and I think he’d be glad people know what’s happening and people want the best for him.”The Milford High School gym was packed Tuesday, with spectators wearing ‘Free Marcelo’ shirts for Gomes da Silva, hoping for his release. Although the game ended in a loss for the Scarlet Hawks, Milford’s opponent, Taunton High School, showed their support during pre-game warmups, wearing T-shirts in support of Gomes da Silva.”It was electric in there. It was like every single chance we got, people were screaming, people were clapping, it was probably one of the best games I’ve seen at Milford High,” said senior Ben Pezza.NewsCenter 5 has learned that Gomes da Silva is being held at an ICE facility in Burlington.A family spokesperson told WCVB that the conditions where Gomes da Silva is being held are not great.”Now they’re on day four of that, and he isn’t eating. Part of that is his anxiety; he can’t. But he’s in terrible conditions. He’s sleeping on the floor,” said Coleen Greco, a parent of one of Gomes da Silva’s volleyball teammates. “I mean, imagine what that must feel like if you can close your eyes for a second and think about what must be going through that kid’s mind.”In a Monday news conference, ICE officials said that they were looking for Gomes da Silva’s father in the traffic stop, but still arrested the high school junior for being undocumented.”We were looking for the father. They made a traffic stop on that vehicle, which was the father’s vehicle. He was driving that vehicle,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said. “But like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone who has a warrant or, like I said, is here illegally, we will take action on that.” On Thursday, Gomes da Silva’s attorney, Robin Nice, will argue for his release on bond during an immigration court hearing in Chelmsford. A judge will determine whether or not he can be released, even while deportation proceedings move forward. A statement from Nice regarding the upcoming court hearing read in part: “Marcelo has no criminal history. His strong community ties, consistent academic achievement, and involvement in positive extracurricular and faith-based activities underscore the fact that he poses no danger to the community and is not a flight risk,” Nice said. “We are hopeful the court will recognize this, and grant his release on bond so Marcelo can return to his family and community. The actions by ICE do not make the community safer, they just sow fear among fear among immigrants and their loved ones.”In a Tuesday press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed ‘Operation Patriot,’ an operation that saw ICE and federal partners arrest 1,461 people.”More than half of the nearly 1,500 illegals arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges pending against them,” Leavitt said. “I don’t think anybody in this room wants these types of heinous criminals in your communities.”ICE has not named or identified any of those arrested but says they include drug traffickers, sex offenders, murderers and foreign fugitives. Nice said Gomes da Silva does not have any criminal history and came to the United States from Brazil on a student visa when he was 7.Video: ICE says student detained during traffic stop targeting father The Milford volleyball team spent Monday evening making T-shirts and signs in support of Marcelo’s release. In a statement, they said they’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey responded to the detainment, demanding to know more information about why Gomes da Silva was arrested.”I’m disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice (Saturday). 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 Sunday. “I’m demanding that ICE provide immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is and how his due process is being protected.” Hundreds of students at Milford High School staged a walkout Monday to show support for their classmate. Students lined up along West Fountain Street holding signs reading “Free Marcelo” or “I support Marcelo.” Sky 5: Students rally for Marcelo Gomes da Silva with Milford HS walkout
The Milford High School boys volleyball team took the court for the first time Tuesday evening, since one of its team members was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over the weekend.
A judge recently ruled that Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, must be kept in Massachusetts for at least 72 hours, after he was detained by ICE agents while traveling to volleyball practice Saturday morning, according to friends and family.
Despite a loss in the highly anticipated playoff game, Milford students said playing the game for Gomes da Silva meant much more than a win.
“That game represented the spirit of Marcelo; he was still there,” said Milford senior Aloiye Okhipo. “We made you proud. We did our best. We showed up for him, you know, and I think he’d be glad people know what’s happening and people want the best for him.”
The Milford High School gym was packed Tuesday, with spectators wearing ‘Free Marcelo’ shirts for Gomes da Silva, hoping for his release.
Although the game ended in a loss for the Scarlet Hawks, Milford’s opponent, Taunton High School, showed their support during pre-game warmups, wearing T-shirts in support of Gomes da Silva.
“It was electric in there. It was like every single chance we got, people were screaming, people were clapping, it was probably one of the best games I’ve seen at Milford High,” said senior Ben Pezza.
NewsCenter 5 has learned that Gomes da Silva is being held at an ICE facility in Burlington.
A family spokesperson told WCVB that the conditions where Gomes da Silva is being held are not great.
“Now they’re on day four of that, and he isn’t eating. Part of that is his anxiety; he can’t. But he’s in terrible conditions. He’s sleeping on the floor,” said Coleen Greco, a parent of one of Gomes da Silva’s volleyball teammates. “I mean, imagine what that must feel like if you can close your eyes for a second and think about what must be going through that kid’s mind.”
In a Monday news conference, ICE officials said that they were looking for Gomes da Silva’s father in the traffic stop, but still arrested the high school junior for being undocumented.
“We were looking for the father. They made a traffic stop on that vehicle, which was the father’s vehicle. He was driving that vehicle,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said. “But like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone who has a warrant or, like I said, is here illegally, we will take action on that.”
On Thursday, Gomes da Silva’s attorney, Robin Nice, will argue for his release on bond during an immigration court hearing in Chelmsford.
A judge will determine whether or not he can be released, even while deportation proceedings move forward.
A statement from Nice regarding the upcoming court hearing read in part:
“Marcelo has no criminal history. His strong community ties, consistent academic achievement, and involvement in positive extracurricular and faith-based activities underscore the fact that he poses no danger to the community and is not a flight risk,” Nice said. “We are hopeful the court will recognize this, and grant his release on bond so Marcelo can return to his family and community. The actions by ICE do not make the community safer, they just sow fear among fear among immigrants and their loved ones.”
In a Tuesday press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed ‘Operation Patriot,’ an operation that saw ICE and federal partners arrest 1,461 people.
“More than half of the nearly 1,500 illegals arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges pending against them,” Leavitt said. “I don’t think anybody in this room wants these types of heinous criminals in your communities.”
ICE has not named or identified any of those arrested but says they include drug traffickers, sex offenders, murderers and foreign fugitives.
Nice said Gomes da Silva does not have any criminal history and came to the United States from Brazil on a student visa when he was 7.
Video: ICE says student detained during traffic stop targeting father
The Milford volleyball team spent Monday evening making T-shirts and signs in support of Marcelo’s release. In a statement, they said they’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey responded to the detainment, demanding to know more information about why Gomes da Silva was arrested.
“I’m disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice (Saturday). 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 Sunday. “I’m demanding that ICE provide immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is and how his due process is being protected.”
Hundreds of students at Milford High School staged a walkout Monday to show support for their classmate. Students lined up along West Fountain Street holding signs reading “Free Marcelo” or “I support Marcelo.”
Sky 5: Students rally for Marcelo Gomes da Silva with Milford HS walkout
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