Massachusetts Community Demands Release of 13-Year-Old Detained by ICE
Milford, MA - June 1: Milford High School graduates protest outside of Milford Town Hall a day after 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes Da Silva was detained by ICE on his way to volleyball practice. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
A 13-year-old boy from Everett, Massachusetts has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being arrested for allegedly threatening another student at his school, sparking outrage among local residents and leaders. The boy was initially detained on October 9 after police received a tip about a violent threat at a public school. Authorities recovered a 6- to 7-inch double-sided knife during the arrest, but no firearm was found, according to Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria.
ICE took the teen into custody after receiving his fingerprints from the police as part of standard procedure, though city officials emphasized that police did not contact ICE directly about the arrest. The boy is reportedly being held in a detention facility in Virginia, though exact details have not been confirmed.
Local leaders, including Everett City Councilor Katy Rogers and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), have condemned the detention, calling it an unjust federal intrusion that undermines community trust. Rogers described the program as “a grotesque federal outreach designed to create fear and fracture our community.” State Senator Sal DiDomenico also criticized ICE, calling it a “rogue agency breaking the law in our community.”
Community members have demanded the teen’s immediate release and called for ICE to be removed from Everett, highlighting concerns about the treatment of minors and the broader impact on immigrant families. Residents insist that police should not be held responsible for ICE’s actions and that the teen should be returned to Massachusetts safely.
The incident has reignited discussions about federal immigration enforcement practices, juvenile rights, and the balance between public safety and protecting immigrant communities.
