Massachusetts, Georgia Teens Describe Harsh ICE Detention Conditions

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an 18-year-old high school junior from Milford, Massachusetts, was detained by ICE while driving his teammates to volleyball practice because agents were seeking his father. Despite having no criminal record and being an upstanding student, Gomes da Silva was held for six days in harsh conditions, including sleeping on concrete floors and limited access to basic necessities, which he described as humiliating. His detention sparked significant community support, including protests, a student walkout, and visits from Congressmen Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss, who inspected the detention facility and advocated for due process. Gomes da Silva was released on a $2,000 bond after an immigration judge found he was not a danger to the community. His attorneys highlighted his good character and the challenges he faced in detention, emphasizing the backlog in immigration courts that could prolong his case. This case reflects the ongoing immigration enforcement measures under the Trump administration, which have impacted even teenagers, as seen in other instances like the detention of a Georgia teen following a traffic stop.