ICE Detains 14 Year Old Brazilian Girl in Massachusetts Parking Lot, Judge Orders Her Release
Family says teen was “taken without warning”; DHS claims it was a safety check
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Image: FBI emblem and federal law‑enforcement imagery — source: wallpapers.com
A 14‑year‑old Brazilian girl identified as B.E.S. was detained this week in a parking lot in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in an incident that has sparked controversy over the treatment of minors by federal immigration agents. According to witnesses, five ICE vehicles surrounded the teen before officers took her into custody.
A Detention Captured on Video
Cellphone footage posted on social media shows family members shouting as agents detain the girl.
“They’re taking you… they’re taking my 14‑year‑old sister,”
a relative can be heard yelling in the video.
The images quickly spread online, prompting questions about why a minor was transported out of state without immediate family notification.
Emergency Legal Action Overnight
Attorney Andrew Lattarulo, who speaks Portuguese and represents the family, filed an emergency habeas corpus petition just before midnight between Wednesday and Thursday. Hours later, a judge granted the request.
“We won the hearing,”
Lattarulo said in another video posted after the ruling.
The legal team discovered that ICE had transferred the teen from Massachusetts to a detention facility in New York. Following the court order, she is now being returned to her family.
A Minor Without Legal Status
The girl was born in Brazil and entered the United States in 2019 on a visitor visa at age nine. She overstayed and has lived in Massachusetts with two older siblings, both over 21. The case has drawn attention because it involves a minor and the actions of federal immigration agents.
DHS Says Teen Was “Rescued,” Not Arrested
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said officers did not arrest the girl but “rescued” her to conduct a safety check. According to DHS, the teen was not in school at the time and was in the company of individuals with criminal histories.
The agency said the intervention was intended to ensure the minor’s safety, not to initiate deportation proceedings.
Attorney Disputes Federal Account
Lattarulo strongly disagrees with DHS’s version of events. He argues that the girl could have been released to other relatives or placed under the care of child‑protection authorities instead of being transported across state lines.
He also says the teen fits the criteria for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a federal protection for minors who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by a parent. According to the attorney, the girl was abandoned by her father, which could make her eligible for a green card rather than deportation.
“This is exactly the type of case SIJS was created for,”
Lattarulo said.
A Case That Raises Broader Questions
The incident highlights ongoing debates about the handling of minors in immigration enforcement. Federal guidelines emphasize child‑welfare considerations, but advocates argue that procedures are inconsistently applied.
As the teen returns to her family, the next steps will involve immigration court proceedings and the SIJS petition, which could determine whether she remains in the United States legally.