Members of the Milford group, together with dozens of highschool college students, and supporters from far and large had been gathered across the federal immigration court docket in Chelmsford on Thursday once they realized that Marcelo Gomes da Silva can be free of federal custody on bond.
The 18-year-old was arrested on Saturday by immigration brokers and has been held since. A decide ordered Gomes da Silva launched on a $2,000 bond after a 5-minute listening to.
Exterior of the courthouse, chants of “free Marcelo” from among the many a whole bunch gathered turned to a cry of jubilation when phrase that “he’s getting out” hit the gang.
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Chelmsford, MA – Milford college students have fun outdoors the immigration listening to for Milford pupil Marcelo Gomes. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
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Chelmsford, MA – Milford college students have fun outdoors the immigration listening to for Milford pupil Marcelo Gomes. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Gomes da Silva’s good friend and fellow junior, Mary Buckley, was among the many first to reach on the courthouse in protest, greater than an hour earlier than her classmate’s listening to. The dour expression she wore upon arrival had turned sunny with the information of Gomes da Silva’s impending launch.
“It never should have happened,” she stated. “I’m so happy he’s going to be freed, obviously, but we shouldn’t have had to be here today.”
She stated that the previous few days with out him in courses have been very exhausting. College students, she stated, are roaming the halls like depressed zombies, with tears and anger evident always.
“You could see the loss in the school. You can feel it,” Buckley stated.
Lecturers have been supportive, she stated, however it’s been clear that they too really feel Gomes da Silva’s absence from their lecture rooms.
“They try to stay neutral, but you can tell,” she stated. “But we’ve had lots of support – the guidance counselor went around and talked to people.”
Jeanette Sweeney described herself as “just a concerned old mom from Boston,” and stated she’d made the journey as much as the Merrimack Valley that morning and even introduced a chair to sit down within the 90-degree climate and await the information for so long as it took.
The arrest of Gomes Da Silva, she stated, has been on her thoughts for the reason that information broke over the weekend.
“I just kept thinking, ‘what if it was my kid,’ you know?” she stated.
She stated she was shocked by the decide’s determination, regardless of how a lot sense she thought it made.
“It’s a little victory, but he shouldn’t have been arrested in the first place. How does any of this — arresting kids, breaking car windows, snatching people off the street — help make us safe? It doesn’t,” she stated.
Gov. Maura Healey stated that she hopes the results of Thursday’s bond listening to gives some aid to involved family members and demonstrates that “the rule of law and due process still prevail.”
