Massachusetts Teen Graduates High School One Year After Being Detained By ICE, Hopes To "Make A Change In The World"

CBS Boston

June 1, 2026

Marcelo Gomes da Silva walked across the stage to receive his diploma from Milford High School on Sunday with an enormous sense of gratitude. "Definitely an important day and an amazing day in my life," he smiled.

It was exactly one year ago when 19-year-old Gomes da Silva was detained for several days by ICE and eventually released. The agency said that Gomes da Silva's father was their intended target, but they arrested the teen instead because his student visa expired and he was in the country illegally.

His detainment sparked outrage in the community and drew national attention. On Sunday, he thanked his school and his community for their support. "I am most grateful for my community. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be graduating. I could possibly have been in Brazil or anywhere else," he said.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva with his family at the Milford High School graduation/CBS Boston

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