Massachusetts Teen Breaks Silence After Shocking ICE Detention en Route to Volleyball Practice…Read More…
A Massachusetts high school student who was unexpectedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while on his way to volleyball practice has spoken out publicly for the first time following his release — and his story is sending shockwaves through communities across the state and beyond.
Seventeen-year-old Luis Fernando Martínez, a senior at Everett High School and a rising star on the school’s varsity volleyball team, was walking to an after-school practice last month when he was suddenly stopped by two unmarked vehicles just blocks from his home. According to eyewitnesses, the ICE agents who emerged did not wear uniforms and offered no immediate explanation for their actions, leaving classmates and neighbors in shock as Luis was taken into custody.
Luis, a Guatemalan national who has lived in Massachusetts since he was eight years old, was held for five days at a federal detention facility in New Hampshire before being released late last week following a massive public outcry, legal intervention, and mounting political pressure.
In his first public comments since the incident, Luis described the harrowing experience in a press conference held Monday afternoon at a Boston legal advocacy center, flanked by his mother, attorney, school administrators, and supporters.
“I Thought I Was Going to Die”
“I didn’t know what was happening,” Luis said, his voice steady but emotional. “One minute I was joking with my friend about who was going to serve better in practice, and the next I was surrounded by people who didn’t tell me where I was going or why.”
Luis recalled being shoved into the back seat of one of the SUVs and driven out of the city. He said he was not allowed to contact his family or lawyer for several hours.
“I honestly thought I was going to die. Or disappear,” he said.
Luis’s mother, Rosa Martínez, said the family had filed all the appropriate paperwork for her son’s pending asylum claim, and that they had been complying with all ICE check-ins.
“We never imagined this would happen — not to a child who goes to school every day, who dreams of playing college volleyball, who has never broken the law,” she said through tears.
Legal and Political Fallout
Luis’s attorney, Julia Hargrove of the Boston Immigrant Justice Alliance, called the detention “not only unlawful but cruel and unnecessary,” citing the ongoing legal proceedings tied to his immigration status.
“We have a minor with no criminal record, actively enrolled in school, with a pending asylum case — yet he was ripped from the community and treated like a fugitive,” Hargrove said.
She confirmed they are now pursuing legal action against the agency, demanding answers and accountability.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey condemned the detention in a statement issued over the weekend, calling the situation “deeply troubling” and demanding an internal investigation by ICE officials.
“No child should be living in fear of being taken off the streets without warning, especially one who has done everything right,” the governor wrote.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu echoed those sentiments, stating, “Luis represents the best of our youth — talented, driven, and determined. The trauma inflicted on him and his family is unacceptable.”
A Wave of Support
Since news of his detention broke, Luis has received a flood of support from classmates, teachers, and sports teams across the region. A Change.org petition calling for his release gathered over 120,000 signatures within 72 hours, and the Everett High School gymnasium has since been covered in signs and letters of encouragement from teammates and classmates.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association issued a public statement in solidarity with Luis, denouncing what they described as a “dangerous overreach” of federal immigration enforcement on school-aged children.
Luis’s volleyball coach, Amanda Griggs, who helped organize a rally during his detention, said his absence was felt both on and off the court.
“Luis brings heart and discipline to our team. But more than that, he’s a leader — someone the younger players look up to. This was a violation not only of his rights but of everything we stand for as a school and a community,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Despite the emotional trauma, Luis says he is determined to finish high school and continue pursuing his dream of playing college volleyball and studying civil engineering. Several colleges have already reached out to offer words of support and reaffirm their interest in him as a student-athlete.
“I want to turn this pain into something positive,” he said. “No one should have to go through what I went through, but maybe by speaking out, I can help make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Luis and his legal team are now working to expedite his asylum application and are considering a formal complaint with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
For now, though, Luis is back with his family — and back on the volleyball court.
“The court is my safe place,” he said with a small smile. “It feels good to be there again. It feels like I’m home.”
A Wake-Up Call
Advocates say Luis’s story is a sobering reminder of how current immigration enforcement practices continue to impact vulnerable youth — even in progressive states like Massachusetts.
“This is not just about one student,” said immigration rights activist Priya Nandini. “This is about a system that is fundamentally broken — and a generation of young people who deserve better.”
As Luis’s story continues to resonate across the country, many hope it will bring greater attention to immigration reform — and spark a long-overdue conversation about the safety and dignity of undocumented students in America.
“I’m still scared sometimes,” Luis admitted, “but I’m also hopeful. Because now people are listening.”
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