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Brazilian father deported after being detained with teen son during Menemsha fishing trip

Sep 2, 2026·Location: Menemsha, MA

Country of origin: Brazil

Brazilian father deported after being detained with teen son during Menemsha fishing trip

Rogério da Silva Lima, 42, a Brazilian carpenter and painter living on Martha's Vineyard, was taken into ICE custody with his teenage son Nycolas during their first fishing trip together near Menemsha after the U.S. Coast Guard boarded their boat, verified their immigration status, and transferred them to ICE at Woods Hole. His employer, Rory Moreis, called him a 'hard worker' who was 'determined, dedicated, no limit to the hours or days to work,' while family friend Andrea James described him as 'a hard-working man' and his son as 'the kindest kid on the planet.' DHS said the pair entered the U.S. without authorization in 2021, that da Silva Lima's asylum claim was denied and his appeal dismissed in 2024, and that both had been issued removal orders in 2023. His attorney, Amelia Ritenour, filed an emergency habeas corpus petition, and a community GoFundMe raised more than $17,000 for legal aid. Nycolas was released after four days into his adult brother's care, and a federal judge, Indira Talwani, later ordered da Silva Lima's release, ruling ICE had missed the 90-day statutory window to detain and remove him. He remained under the removal order and ultimately left the U.S. unshackled on a civilian flight in September, returning to Brazil and telling a reporter, 'It was the worst feeling in the world. I love my sons, and I did not want to leave them behind.' His sons Nycolas and Nayran remain on Martha's Vineyard to continue school and work.

Timeline

Sep 2, 2026Da Silva Lima left the U.S. unshackled on a civilian flight under ICE supervision and returned to Brazil, leaving his sons Nycolas and Nayran on Martha's Vineyard.
May 27, 2026U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ordered his release, ruling ICE had exceeded the 90-day statutory window to detain and remove him following his 2023 removal order.
May 25, 2026Government attorney argued da Silva Lima should remain detained up to six months; he was transferred to Burlington ICE processing center and later to an unknown location.
May 22, 2026Nycolas was released from custody after four days into the care of his adult brother.
May 20, 2026Attorney Amelia Ritenour filed an emergency habeas corpus petition; a federal judge ordered the family kept in Massachusetts while a judge was assigned.
May 18, 2026Coast Guard boarded fishing boat off Menemsha and detained da Silva Lima and his son Nycolas, transferring them to ICE custody at Woods Hole.
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