Additional Coverage:
- ‘Inhumane’ conditions inside ICE holding cells exposed as Mass. residents gather to condemn facility (themirror.com)
Burlington Residents Unanimously Condemn ICE Detention Facility Over Alleged Substandard Conditions
BURLINGTON, MA – Residents of Burlington have delivered a resounding vote to condemn the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a local facility used for detaining migrants. The vote comes just weeks after an 18-year-old high school student was released from what he described as “humiliating” conditions within the center.
During a recent town meeting, Burlington’s leaders argued that ICE is not only breaching local zoning laws but also subjecting detainees to substandard conditions for extended periods.
The spotlight on the facility intensified following the detention of Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, an 18-year-old student from Milford High School. Gomes Da Silva, who immigrated to the U.S. from Brazil at age seven, was held for six days in July by federal immigration agents.
Upon his release on a $2,000 bond, he spoke publicly about the “bad” and “humiliating” conditions he endured, crediting his faith for helping him through the ordeal. As a poignant reminder, he wore a bracelet made from a thin metallic blanket, similar to those provided for warmth on cold cement floors.
“I’ll always remember this place,” Gomes Da Silva stated. “I’ll always remember how it was.”
Reports from former and current detainees, including Gomes Da Silva, detail a litany of concerns: being forced to sleep on cold cement floors with only thin Mylar blankets, inadequate food provisions, severe overcrowding, poor temperature regulation, and unsanitary conditions.
Robin Nice, Gomes Da Silva’s attorney, expressed her frustration following a hearing in Chelmsford. “This shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
This is all a waste,” Nice told reporters. “We disrupted a kid’s life.
We just disrupted a community’s life. These kids should be celebrating graduation and prom…
They should be doing kid stuff, and it is a travesty and a waste of our judicial process to have to go through this.”
Nice further revealed that Gomes Da Silva was confined to a windowless room with 25 to 35 men, many twice his age, for the majority of his detention. He was denied outdoor time and showers, managing to brush his teeth only twice.
His request for a Bible, despite his active involvement in his local church, was reportedly denied. Alleged photos from inside the facility during that period show detainees huddled together, seemingly sleeping directly on concrete with Mylar blankets.
The Milford teen’s attorney characterized the conditions as a “new level of depravity” for an ICE facility. While the town’s resolution is largely symbolic, it underscores local authorities’ intent to investigate the matter and implement “corrective action.”
In response to past inquiries, ICE officials have maintained that the Burlington facility is primarily designed for brief detainee intake processes. An ICE spokesperson stated in June that while it is a “rarity” for detainees to stay longer, the building can “facilitate a longer-term stay when necessary.”
The condemnation from Burlington comes amidst increased immigration enforcement across Massachusetts. As of September, immigrants have reportedly been detained while going to work, outside courthouses, and in store parking lots in Metro Boston, as federal efforts target so-called sanctuary cities. This broader climate has led to significant community impact, including the city of Everett canceling its annual Hispanic Heritage Month festival after its mayor expressed concerns that community members might not feel safe attending.