Lawyers for Civil Rights seek probe into Everett police ICE arrest of 13-year-old

Lawyers for Civil Rights have called for an independent state investigation into the Everett Police Department following the arrest and subsequent immigration detention of a 13-year-old boy. The boy was initially arrested by Everett police for allegedly threatening another student with a knife, but concerns have arisen regarding whether the police unlawfully facilitated his transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, potentially violating Massachusetts law and the 2017 Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Lunn v. Commonwealth. Everett city officials, including Mayor Carlo DeMaria, deny notifying ICE and claim they had no control over ICE's actions. Lawyers for Civil Rights argue this case reflects a broader issue of escalating immigration enforcement in Massachusetts and demands updated law enforcement guidance, mandatory training, and an independent state-level oversight body to ensure legal protections, especially for youth, are upheld. The controversy includes conflicting reports about the boy's possession of a firearm and alleged gang ties cited by federal authorities, which the city disputes. This case has sparked urgent calls for transparency, accountability, and stronger safeguards to protect immigrant communities in Massachusetts.