Students at Milford High School in Massachusetts held a strike on Monday to support their classmate, Marcelo Gomez da Silva. A Brazilian national, Gomez da Silva entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2012, but his visa has since expired. His lawyers claim he is entitled to asylum and intend to apply on his behalf. Currently a junior, Gomez da Silva has no criminal history and was recently detained by ICE, leading to accusations of illegal detention from his legal team.
In solidarity, many students wore “free Marcelo” t-shirts during the strike, which was supported by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, who criticized ICE’s actions as “cruel.” The community showed unity, with 200 teachers joining the students in protest. The day before, Gomez da Silva had participated in the school’s graduation ceremony.
A judge issued orders preventing Gomez da Silva from leaving Massachusetts without notice while his case is considered, giving the government 14 days to respond to the petition. ICE defended its actions, stating Gomez da Silva’s arrest was part of searching for his father. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed her outrage regarding Gomez da Silva’s detention.
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