BURLINGTON, Mass. —
The parents of a Milford, Massachusetts, teenager who was briefly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents met with officials Tuesday.
Gustavo Oliveira, 16, who attends Milford High School, was taken into custody by masked ICE agents after he got a sandwich at a Main Street bakery in downtown Milford on Friday.
The incident was captured on video. He was detained by the agents and later released.
Oliveira met with immigration officials in Burlington on Monday, and ICE officials requested a meeting with Oliveira's parents on Tuesday.
Before Tuesday's meeting, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, issued a statement saying ICE does not target children.
"During a targeted enforcement operation, two illegal aliens fled from the vehicle on foot. The suspected target of the operation escaped, and ICE briefly detained a 16-year-old Brazilian illegal alien to determine his identity and if he was a potential safety threat, as is routine for all arrests," McLaughlin said.
She said when the department learned Oliveira was a teenager, his parents were called to pick him up.
"His parents refused to come get him, so ICE drove him home," McLaughlin said.
Oliveira's attorney, Jill Seeber, said the Oliveira family is seeking asylum and has been following the legal process.
Many people gathered outside of the Burlington ICE facility for an hourslong rally in support of Salem resident, Blanca Martinez, who was back in Burlington for another meeting with immigration officials.
"I feel very powerful and very privileged to have all this community fighting for me today," Martinez said.
In May, another Milford High School student, Marcelo Gomes da Silva, was detained for lacking permanent legal status following a traffic stop while he was on his way to volleyball practice.
Gomes da Silva was released from ICE custody after nearly a week. His story ignited a firestorm surrounding immigration policy in Massachusetts.
On Sunday morning, ICE agents detained another man who was traveling in a minivan while on Concord Street in Sudbury.
The man, whose identity has not been revealed, was eventually taken away by ICE agents, while the female passenger he was with was left behind in their van.
WCVB reached out to ICE for comment on the Milford and Sudbury arrests, but has not heard back.
In a statement, Milford Public Schools Superintendent Craig Consigli promised a "safe, supportive learning environment for every student."
He continued, "Milford Public Schools is aware of community concerns following recent reports of immigration enforcement activity, including actions involving Milford students.
"The Milford Public Schools is committed to providing a safe, supportive learning environment for every student who walks through our doors. The privacy and well-being of our students is our top priority. We have made resources available for families who are seeking additional support during this time."