A Milford teen who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on his way to volleyball practice in May 2025 will face a presidential hearing donald trump State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, February 24. Marcelo Gomez da Silva was detained on May 31 and held for five days at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Burlington.
Gomez da Silva will attend the event as a guest of Rep. Seth Moulton, who is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming election.
“As an immigrant, being invited to state of the union address “This is very meaningful,” Gomez da Silva said in a statement provided by Moulton’s office. “I am proud to represent the strength, faith and hard work of my community.”
Who is Marcelo Gomez da Silva?
Milford High School student Gomes da Silva makes national headlines after being detained ICE agent last spring. He was released on $2,000 bail after an immigration hearing that lasted only four minutes. According to WCVB, the government did not present any arguments during the hearing.
Federal agents were initially searching for Gomez da Silva’s father when he was taken into custody. The student held a student visa, which reportedly expired without his knowledge.
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Gomez da Silva sAfter his release, he spoke publicly about conditions at ICE facilities. “That place? Not good. Not good. They’ve been handcuffing me since I got here,” he said at the time. “I haven’t showered in six days. I haven’t done anything. The only thing I can do is thank God every day. Because that’s all I can do. I’ll be there praying.”
However, ICE dismissed his claims, with officials later saying, “The facts are that Marcelo Gomez da Silva was eating three meals a day, including fresh sandwiches, and although nothing was found wrong, he received prompt off-site medical care and thanked one of our officers, saying ‘everyone is fine.'”
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Meanwhile, Congressman Moulton said in a statement He invited Gomez da Silva because “his story reflects the current flaws in our immigration system.”
“The outpouring of support Marcelo received after his detention was no accident. It happened because people knew what kind of person Marcelo was. He is exactly the kind of young man the United States should be investing in rather than locking up. If we want to call ourselves a country of opportunity, we should start by lifting up young men like Marcelo,” he added.
