Milford HS student detained not target of ICE operation, federal officials say

Federal representatives revealed Monday that Milford teen Marcelo Gomes-DaSilva was not the target of the federal immigration enforcement operation that resulted in his arrest Representatives declared they were looking for the -year-old s father Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira when they detained him Saturday Officers identified the target s van and initiated a carriage stop with the intention of apprehending Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira an ICE spokesperson disclosed Upon conducting the car stop officers arrested Marcelo Gomes-Da Silva an illegally present -year-old Brazilian alien and the son of the intended target Gomes-DaSilva was uncovered to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings so officers made the arrest Gomes-DaSilva is at this time being held in ICE custody in Burlington A judge has ordered Gomes can not be removed from the state for at least hours Countless have spoken out in advocacy of Gomes including Governor Maura Healey I m disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School aspirant was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice the last evening Healey disclosed in a report Sunday Yet again local functionaries 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 Milford High School students walked out of class Monday afternoon in endorsement of Gomes-DaSilva