Massachusetts Governor Calls for Answers Following ICE Detention of Milford High School Student
Gov. Healey and Milford residents rally for answers as ICE detains student Marcelo Gomes, sparking protests over immigration policies.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed strong concern Sunday evening after federal immigration agents arrested an 18-year-old Milford High School student, Marcelo Gomes, as he was on his way to volleyball practice. The incident, which took place over the weekend, has ignited a wave of outrage and sparked community protests demanding his immediate release.
Governor Healey addressed the situation through social media, stating that she is "disturbed and outraged" by the detention of Gomes. She emphasized the urgent need for transparency, demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provide immediate details regarding the reasons for the arrest, the student's current whereabouts, and how his rights to due process are being protected. Healey also criticized what she called continuing fear tactics by the Trump administration, asserting, "The Trump Administration continues to create fear in our communities, and it’s making us all less safe."
According to Healey, neither state officials nor local law enforcement received any warning or explanation about Gomes's apprehension. "Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads up and no answers to their questions," she stated, underscoring the broader communication gap between federal immigration authorities and local communities.
The response from the Milford community was swift. On Sunday, hundreds gathered outside Milford to protest, demanding that ICE release Gomes and cease what they described as harassment of local residents. The demonstration drew support from elected officials, including U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, who attended the protest and highlighted Gomes’s involvement in the community. In his public remarks, Auchincloss described the student as "enrolled in honors classes, a coaching assistant for girls volleyball, a player for boys volleyball, and a member of the school band," noting that such arrests undermine safety rather than enhance it.
"This administration has its public safety priorities backwards," Auchincloss wrote on X, criticizing recent federal decisions while standing in solidarity with the Milford community. He asserted that the detention of a high school athlete sends the wrong message and negatively affects law and order in the area.
Milford School District Superintendent Kevin McIntyre echoed these sentiments, stressing the school system's commitment to supporting all students regardless of immigration status. While clarifying that the district does not participate in immigration enforcement, McIntyre stated, "They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes...musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors. We will do everything in our power to support our students and families during these difficult times."
The situation cast a shadow over Milford High School’s graduation ceremony on Sunday morning. Governor Healey summarized the mood, saying, "My heart goes out to the Milford community on what was supposed to be a celebratory graduation day." As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, the town of Milford—and the wider state—awaits answers from federal authorities regarding the circumstances of Gomes’s arrest and what lies ahead for the student and his family.
