Lawyer: Rights of Teen Detained by ICE 'Completely Violated'

A 14-year-old Brazilian girl was detained and transferred out of state before a judge ordered her return to Massachusetts.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:03am

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A 14-year-old Brazilian girl was detained by ICE agents outside a church in Marlborough, Massachusetts on Tuesday and transferred out of state before a federal judge ordered her return to Massachusetts on Thursday. Her lawyer, Andrew Lattarulo, said "Her rights were 100% violated" and that the government's explanation for the detention and transfer was "fishy".

Why it matters

The detention of the teenage girl has heightened political tensions, with U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley saying cases like this are not unique and that children detained by immigration authorities face lasting trauma. The incident highlights concerns over the treatment of minors by immigration enforcement.

The details

ICE agents detained the 14-year-old girl along with two Brazilian men who were suspected gang members. ICE claimed they "rescued" the girl from the suspected gang members, but Lattarulo questioned why she was then held for 10 hours and transferred to New York before being returned to Massachusetts. A federal judge quickly ordered her return to Massachusetts after Lattarulo filed a habeas corpus petition.

  • On March 11, ICE agents detained the 14-year-old girl outside a church in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
  • On Thursday, the girl was released and reunited with her family after a federal judge ordered her return to Massachusetts.

The players

Andrew Lattarulo

The lawyer representing the 14-year-old girl who was detained by ICE.

Ayanna Pressley

A U.S. Representative who said the case was reported to her office by community members and that cases like this are not unique.

Igor Jose Cordeiro Ferreira

A 28-year-old Brazilian man who was arrested by ICE and is suspected of being a member of the Primeiro Comando da Massachusetts gang.

Lucas Da Silva Senes De Almeida

A 25-year-old Brazilian man who was arrested by ICE and is suspected of being a member of the Primeiro Comando da Massachusetts gang.

Health and Human Services

The agency that took custody of the 14-year-old girl after she was detained by ICE.

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What they’re saying

“Her rights were 100% violated”

— Andrew Lattarulo, Lawyer for the 14-year-old girl

“Now they say they're rescuing her from gang members, but why hold her for 10 hours and then move her to New York to bring her back? Something's fishy there.”

— Andrew Lattarulo, Lawyer for the 14-year-old girl

“Their actions are very contradictory.”

— Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Representative

“They're forever changed by the traumatic disruption that they have experienced that never should've happened in the first place.”

— Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Representative

What’s next

The judge's order for the 14-year-old girl's return to Massachusetts is a significant development, but her long-term immigration status and potential eligibility for a special immigrant visa remain uncertain.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns over the treatment of minors by immigration enforcement, the lasting trauma experienced by children detained by authorities, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the immigration system.