Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, an 18-year-old student from Milford High School, was freed from a federal immigration detention facility after a challenging six-day ordeal. Wearing a brown tee shirt emblazoned with a “Free Marcelo” sticker, shorts, and Crocs, he stood before a throng of reporters post-release.
In his first public remarks, Gomes Da Silva stated, “I don’t wanna cry — but I wanna say that that place is not good.”
Upon his release, he celebrated with a visit to McDonald’s where he enjoyed chicken nuggets and fries, followed by a meeting with U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss and Seth Moulton in the parking lot of the Burlington field office—where the media gathered in anticipation.
“I’m extremely happy. All glory goes to God,” Gomes Da Silva expressed, relieved to be back in the community.
The decision to release him came from Immigration Judge Jenny Beverly who set his bail at $2,000 during a hearing on Thursday. His attorney, Robin Nice, indicated that he is unlikely to face further detention by ICE while on bond, stating, “We’re thrilled that he’s released. We appreciate that the judge said basically the lowest bond that she could, which is obviously appropriate in this case, but obviously he shouldn’t have been detained in the first place and it’s gonna be a long road ahead.”
Gomes Da Silva recounted the harrowing experience of his arrest, recalling how he was stopped by federal agents while pulling into a friend’s home before volleyball practice. “I was in shock. I didn’t know what was going on,” he reflected on that moment.
During the encounter, agents arrested him, asserting he was in the country illegally. “He said, ‘do you know why you’re under arrest?’ I said, ‘no, I don’t,'” Gomes Da Silva recalled, further explaining that the agents claimed they were seeking his father, a figure central to the situation.
In a discussion with one sympathetic ICE officer, he learned that he had overstayed his visa, which had been valid from his arrival in the U.S. in 2013 until it expired in 2015. “Ma’am, I was 7 years old,” he remembered telling the officer.
Despite previous misleading reports from ICE claiming he had been transferred to another facility, Gomes Da Silva remained only at the Burlington ICE office. While detained, he utilized his language skills to assist fellow detainees with translations, often translating documents officials presented to them.
He described the conditions as humiliating, detailing the discomfort of sleeping on concrete floors and sharing a bathroom with numerous other men. “It’s humiliating — I just felt embarrassed for everyone else,” he stated.
Moulton and Auchincloss, both representing the area, addressed the gathered crowd following the release, expressing their intent to investigate the facility further.
“We support securing our borders, we support following the law, but this administration is breaking the law,” Moulton stressed. “This administration isn’t keeping us safe by putting 18-year-old honors students in prison. This is not what law and order looks like,” added Auchincloss, emphasizing their stance against the detainment of an exemplary student.
Earlier on the same day, the community rallied in support of Gomes Da Silva, with over 120 individuals and dozens of Milford High School students attending a gathering outside the Chelmsford courthouse.
Born in Brazil, Gomes Da Silva has lived in the United States since the age of five and has no criminal record. As a high school junior, he plays on the volleyball team and was apprehended on his way to practice.
Julianys Rentas, 18, his girlfriend of nearly two years, articulated the sentiment of many: “Of course what they did was an injustice. It was unfair. He’s not a criminal. He should have never been their target. It just wasn’t right. The way he’s being treated is not correct.”
Teammates from the volleyball squad gathered wearing white T-shirts adorned with his jersey number, 10, as a symbol of their support. Giovanni Guilarducci, another player, praised Gomes Da Silva, saying, “He’s a really good kid and he deserves all the support he can get. The experiences he’s been through… it can really change a person.”
Looking ahead, the next hearing for Gomes Da Silva’s immigration case is not expected for at least three months.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, revealed that ICE agents were initially targeting Gomes Da Silva’s father, João Paulo Gomes-Pereira, who has a history of speeding violations.
Despite having a driving infraction dropped in 2023 and paying a minor fine, Gomes-Pereira does not have other pending criminal charges according to court records.
In a poignant video released by the family, Gomes-Pereira addressed ICE agents directly, stating, “I love my son, we need Marcelo back home. We love America. Please bring my son back.”
Gomes Da Silva, in response to questions about his father, stepped in to defend him, articulating, “I heard a lot of people talking badly about my dad but if you wanna talk badly about my dad, you have to talk badly about me cause he raised me. If I have so much support from everyone from my town, he doesn’t deserve any hate because I was raised from him. He’s a good person, never did anything wrong.”
Voicing hope for his father’s well-being, he remarked, “My dad would call me at night with brother and sister and he wouldn’t stop crying. Why? There’s no reason for this,” shaking his head in disbelief.
With his release, Gomes Da Silva now looks forward to reuniting with his family and his beloved mini poodle, whom he can’t wait to hug.
image source from：https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-06-05/milford-teen-released-from-ice-detention
