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The petition describes Marcelo Gomes da Silva as “a Dreamer, an active church member, and a young man of faith, service, and leadership.”
More than 5,400 people have signed an online petition urging the Trump administration to allow an undocumented Milford teenager to remain in the United States.
Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, was released on $2,000 bond Thursday after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just weeks shy of high school graduation. Da Silva was born in Brazil and came to the U.S. at age 7. The teen was on his way to volleyball practice on May 31 when ICE agents, looking for his father, took him into custody.
The arrest sparked outrage in the Milford community, prompting student walkouts and rallies demanding da Silva’s release.
The Change.org petition was launched shortly after authorities transported da Silva to a detention facility in Burlington. Though da Silva was released, he still faces deportation and is seeking asylum.
The petition, called Free Marcelo, Help a Dreamer Finish High School & Stay in the Only Country He’s Ever Known, says, “Marcelo Gomes is not a statistic — he’s a student, a son, a friend, and a cherished part of our community.” Organizers say da Silva speaks only English as a fluent language and has no criminal background.
The petition pleads with the Trump administration to let da Silva remain in the country.
“We’re asking President Trump and immigration officials to act with compassion and release Marcelo so he can graduate and continue building a life of purpose here in the U.S. You recently said that Dreamers should be allowed to stay, and we believe you meant that. Please sign this petition to urge immediate action for Marcelo and stand up for the values of fairness, family, and faith,” the petition states.
So far, the Trump administration has not responded to the petition. However, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons defended da Silva’s arrest to Reuters, saying, “He’s in this country illegally and we’re not going to walk away from anybody.”
Da Silva’s arrest came during a crackdown by ICE in Massachusetts last month, which resulted in nearly 1,500 undocumented residents being taken into custody.
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