Milford high school student taken into custody by ICE

MILFORD, Mass. (WJAR) — An 18-year-old high school student was taken into ICE custody in Milford Saturday morning.

According to NBC Boston, the school’s volleyball coach said the student was pulled over while he and a teammate were on their way to volleyball practice.

Andrew Mainini, the school’s volleyball coach said he found out about the arrest via text around 8:00 a.m. Saturday.

“I was sitting there thinking, ‘This can’t be happening,'” Mainini said in an interview with NBC Boston. “I’m a person who watches a decent amount of news and it’s one thing to see things happening in the world. It’s another to have them directly impact the people you work with and care for on a daily basis.”

A spokesperson with ICE confirmed that the student was taken into custody, but did not give a reason for the arrest.

Kevin McIntyre, superintendent of Milford Public Schools, confirmed the arrest in statement, also saying that several parents in the Milford community have been taken into custody in recent weeks.

McIntyre said, in part:

The Milford Public Schools play no part in immigration enforcement and support all of our students and families, including those who are immigrants to the United States. 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.

In a statement issued Sunday morning, Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) said:

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. 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.”

A protest is scheduled for noon at Milford Town Hall.