Brazilian student detained by ICE, released after months, attends State of the Union as guest
May 2026·Location: Milford, MA
Country of origin: Brazil

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an 18-year-old high school student from Brazil who arrived in the U.S. at age 7, was arrested by ICE agents in May 2025 while driving to volleyball practice because his student visa had expired. He was detained in a Burlington ICE facility under poor conditions, including sleeping on concrete floors without beds or windows. After his release on bond, he remained in legal limbo for several months. He received his high school diploma in May 2026 and was invited by Congressman Seth Moulton to attend the State of the Union as a guest, where he planned to advocate for immigrants. His arrest and resilience were publicly acknowledged during his high school's commencement ceremony.
Timeline
Sources
- Milford student once detained by ICE to attend State of the Union
- metrowestdailynews.com
- Milford teen previously detained by ICE to attend State of the Union
nbcboston.com·Feb 12, 2026·archived copy
- Mass. teen once detained by ICE will attend State of the Union
m.wcvb.com·Feb 12, 2026·archived copy
- ICE arrests continued during graduation season, and some students have nearly missed their big event
Boston Globe·Jun 24, 2026·archived copy
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