Everett community demands release of 13-year-old from ICE custody
By Mary Saladna
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EVERETT, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Community members rallied outside Everett City Hall Tuesday night, calling for the return of a 13-year-old boy who is now being held in an ICE detention center in Virginia.
“As a mother, as a community, we should be outraged,” said Guerline Alcy Jabouin, an Everett city councilor.
Last week, the 13-year-old was arrested by Everett police for allegedly threatening another student at his school.
While the boy’s mother waited at police headquarters following his arrest, she discovered her 13-year-old son had been turned over to ICE and quickly moved out of state.
“This is a rogue agency,” State Senator Sal DiDomenico said at an Everett City Council meeting Tuesday night. “A rogue agency that is breaking the law in our community…they should return this child to our state [and] they should get out of our business.”
Others echoed his sentiments.
“Remove ICE from our city — issue a formal correction to the misinformation spread online,” said Everett City Councilor Katy Rogers.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Carlo DeMaria praised the police department’s swift response to the initial arrest of the teen, saying they prevented a potential tragedy.
DeMaria said Everett police were not responsible for the 13-year-old being detained by immigration authorities.
“Police did not contact ICE about this recent juvenile arrest,” he said at the press conference. “ICE works independently and has the authority to access certain law enforcement databases and take action on its own accord.”
The Department of Homeland Security said the boy was in possession of a knife and a gun during his arrest, but DeMaria disputed part of that.
“There was no firearm recovered,” he said, although the 13-year-old was in possession of a double-sided knife.
At the city council meeting, residents expressed their concern about immigration authorities.
“We face arrests and fear every day, we demand due process,” said Lucy Pineda, an Everett resident.
“It’s very simple— ICE should not be detaining minors, we shouldn’t be collaborating with ICE at all, really,” Shane McNally, another Everett resident, said.
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