Massachusetts high school volleyball team rallies around teammate detained by immigration agents

A precocious schoolhouse volleyball squad successful Massachusetts is asking fans to deterioration achromatic to their adjacent lucifer to amusement enactment for a teammate who has been detained by national migration authorities

BOSTON -- A precocious schoolhouse volleyball squad successful Massachusetts is asking fans to deterioration achromatic to their lucifer Tuesday nighttime to amusement enactment for a teammate who has been detained by national migration authorities.

“Our crippled connected June 3rd volition beryllium played successful grant of Marcelo. We volition proceed to commune and combat for our brother,” the Milford High School boys volleyball squad said successful an Instagram post.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a inferior calved successful Brazil, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Saturday connected his mode to volleyball practice. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Monday that agents were looking for the teenager’s father, who owns the car Gomes da Silva was driving astatine the time.

“Like immoderate section instrumentality enforcement officer, if you brushwood idiosyncratic that has a warrant oregon … he’s present illegally, we volition instrumentality enactment connected it,” helium said erstwhile reporters asked astir the teen.

Asked wherefore ICE would detain an 18-year-old with nary transgression record, Lyons answered, “I didn’t accidental helium was dangerous. I said he’s successful this state illegally and we’re not going to locomotion distant from anybody.”

Gomes da Silva has filed a petition successful national tribunal seeking to beryllium released arsenic his migration lawsuit proceeds. A justice connected Monday gave the authorities 2 weeks to respond and ordered that Gomes da Silva not beryllium moved retired of Massachusetts without 48 hours' announcement fixed to the court.

The apprehension has sparked outrage among Democratic officials, including Gov. Maura Healey, who demanded accusation astir his determination and whether helium is being afforded owed process. The superintendent of Milford schools said the territory plays nary portion successful migration enforcement and supports each families, including immigrants.

Hundreds of students astatine the schoolhouse staged a walkout Monday, holding signs speechmaking “Free our friend” and “America was built by immigrants.” Teachers volition beryllium astatine Tuesday night’s volleyball crippled on with different assemblage members who enactment Gomes da Silva’s release, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Teachers Association said.

“The Massachusetts Teachers Association condemns ICE’s cruel and inhumane actions successful the strongest imaginable terms,” the national said successful a statement. “We telephone connected leaders astatine each level to guarantee our schools stay harmless spaces of learning, belonging and information for each students — not hunting grounds for ICE agents.”

___

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.

Sponsored Content by Taboola