A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and taken into ICE custody after allegedly threatening a student and possessing a double-sided knife. His mother, Josiele Berto, is left without answers as to why her son was detained and where he is being held. The family’s pending asylum case and the mystery surrounding the arrest have sparked outrage and concern, with Berto fighting for her son’s release.
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Boy Arrested for Alleged Threats and Weapon Possession
Arthur, a 13-year-old boy from Brazil, was arrested last Thursday in Everett, Massachusetts, after allegedly threatening another student and being found with a double-sided knife. Everett Police had received a “credible tip” about the threat and responded by arresting the teenager. However, the details surrounding the arrest, particularly why ICE took him into custody, remain unclear.
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Mother Left in the Dark
Josiele Berto, Arthur’s mother, was informed by local police that she needed to pick up her son, but when she arrived at the police station, she was told that her son had been taken by ICE. She described her frustration to CNN, stating, “I only talk to him, never to any official who could explain what kind of place it is or what’s happening.” For days, Berto and her attorney were left waiting for answers as to the circumstances of the arrest and where Arthur had been taken.
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Uncertainty Around ICE’s Role in the Arrest
Mayor Carlo DeMaria of Everett confirmed that Arthur was arrested for the alleged threat but stated that local police had not contacted ICE. He also noted that immigrants were not being targeted in Everett, a city with a large undocumented population. However, the swift involvement of ICE in this case raised questions, with DeMaria suggesting that ICE might have accessed law enforcement databases to act independently. The mayor’s statements contradict claims made by the Department of Homeland Security about the case.
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First Juvenile Detained by ICE in Everett
This case has raised significant concern, as Police Chief Paul Strong noted that this was the first time a juvenile from Everett had been taken into ICE custody following an arrest by the local police. The lack of communication between Everett police and ICE officials regarding the case has led to confusion and public outcry, especially as the arrest appears to involve a minor with no clear connection to immigration enforcement.
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Family’s Legal Battle to Secure Release
Berto and her attorney, Andrew Lattarulo, have taken the case to federal court, requesting that the government provide an explanation for Arthur’s detention or allow him to be released on bond. A Massachusetts judge issued a deadline for the government to justify the detention by Tuesday night, but as of Wednesday, it remains unclear whether the government had met the court’s deadline.
Widespread Outrage and Attention
Berto’s case has drawn local outrage and national attention. Advocates and community members are questioning the treatment of minors in immigration enforcement actions and whether ICE’s involvement in such cases is appropriate, especially when no criminal charges have been filed against the young boy. The family’s fight for justice continues as they seek to understand why their son, who had no prior record, was detained so suddenly.
