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Brazilian father deported after ICE detained him and son during Martha's Vineyard fishing trip

Sep 2, 2026·Location: Menemsha, MA

Country of origin: Brazil

Brazilian father deported after ICE detained him and son during Martha's Vineyard fishing trip
Photo via mvtimes.com

Rogério da Silva Lima, 42, a Brazilian carpenter and painter living on Martha's Vineyard, was taken into ICE custody with his teenage son Nycolas during their first fishing trip together near Menemsha after the U.S. Coast Guard boarded their boat and transferred them to ICE at Woods Hole. His employer, Rory Moreis, called him a 'hard worker' who was 'determined, dedicated, no limit to the hours or days to work,' while family friend Andrea James described him as 'a hard-working man' and his son as 'the kindest kid on the planet.' DHS said the pair entered the U.S. without authorization in 2021, that da Silva Lima's asylum claim was denied and his appeal dismissed in 2024, and both had been issued removal orders in 2023. His attorney, Amelia Ritenour, filed an emergency habeas corpus petition, and a community GoFundMe raised more than $17,000 for legal aid. Nycolas was released after four days into his adult brother's care, and a federal judge, Indira Talwani, later ordered da Silva Lima's release, ruling ICE had missed the 90-day statutory window to detain and remove him. He remained under the removal order and ultimately departed the U.S. unshackled on a civilian flight paid for by ICE, saying, 'It was the worst feeling in the world. I love my sons, and I did not want to leave them behind.' His sons Nycolas and Nayran remain on Martha's Vineyard to continue school and work.

Timeline

Aug 31, 2026—Da Silva Lima departed the U.S. unshackled on a civilian flight paid for by ICE, returning to Brazil under his removal order
Aug 1, 2026—Federal judge Indira Talwani ordered da Silva Lima's release, ruling ICE exceeded the 90-day detention window
May 5, 2026—Nycolas released from custody after four days into his adult brother's care
May 5, 2026—Attorney Amelia Ritenour filed an emergency habeas corpus petition; community GoFundMe raised over $17,000
May 1, 2026—Rogério da Silva Lima and his son Nycolas detained by ICE after Coast Guard boarded their fishing boat near Menemsha
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