A legal battle is unfolding in Boston over the detention of a minor from Everett.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns has given U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until the end of today to justify holding a 13-year-old boy who was arrested last week by Everett police and then transferred to a facility in Virginia without his family or attorney being notified.
Absent a convincing written explanation, the judge has ordered that a bond hearing be scheduled by Friday.
According to reporting by WBUR, the teen was taken into custody by Everett police and then immediately turned over to ICE. His attorney, Andrew Lattarulo, told reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka that the boy was moved out of state without prior notice to his family, counsel, or a local court.
Lattarulo emphasized the legal protections governing minors. In his view, state and federal law require a parent or guardian to be present during questioning and do not authorize an interstate transfer under such circumstances. “To transport him 500 miles away from his home, family and legal counsel, that raises some serious concerns,” the attorney said. “I think the government’s intent is to hinder effective legal representation.”
Police have not released the teen’s identity or details of any potential charges because he is a minor. Lattarulo said he has not seen a police report at this stage and is not aware of any confirmed criminal history.
In a post Sunday on X, Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said the boy had a firearm and a knife when he was taken into custody. She also cited “an extensive rap sheet including violent assault with a dangerous weapon, battery, breaking and entering, destruction of property.” These assertions, made publicly by DHS, remain allegations and have not been detailed to date in any public court filing, WBUR—an NPR affiliate—reported.
The gap between the federal account and the defense’s position is at the core of Judge Stearns’s expedited review: either ICE presents a specific legal basis justifying the detention of a minor and his interstate transfer, or the court will consider a bond release in the coming days.
For the defense, transferring the boy to Virginia undermines effective access to counsel and parental presence—two essential safeguards in any proceeding involving a child. “To transport him 500 miles away from his home, family and legal counsel, that raises some serious concerns,” Lattarulo reiterated, calling it an impediment to the exercise of rights: “I think the government’s intent is to hinder effective legal representation.”
The case also raises questions about coordination among local police, federal immigration authorities, and the courts: the lack of prior notice to Massachusetts judicial actors complicates oversight of administrative decisions affecting a minor.
Judge Richard G. Stearns’s order is explicit: justify the detention by day’s end or set a bond hearing for Friday.
The compressed timetable is intended, at minimum, to clarify the status of the alleged charges, the conditions of custody, and the legal basis for the transfer.
On the defense side, the priority is to bring the boy closer to his family and attorney to ensure effective preparation for any forthcoming proceedings, WBUR noted.
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