A 13-year-old from Brazil, suspected of gang involvement, has found himself in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is now pleading for leniency. According to his lawyer, the young teen, Arthur Yuri De Almeida Silva Berto, has expressed deep remorse and is asking for another chance.

Berto, a seventh-grade student, was apprehended on October 9 at his school in Massachusetts. The arrest followed allegations that he threatened a fellow student with the intention to “shoot and kill,” a claim that has brought significant attention to his case.

Following his arrest by local authorities, Berto was subsequently transferred to ICE custody. Initial detention took place at a local police station, but it was not the officers who alerted immigration officials. Instead, once Berto’s fingerprints entered a national database, federal agents arrived to take him into custody.

There is a contention regarding the circumstances of his arrest; while Homeland Security officials claim Berto was armed with a gun, city officials and Everett police reported that he was actually found with a 5-inch Milwaukee knife.

Homeland Security officials alleged that Berto had a gun on him, but he was carrying a 5-inch Milwaukee knife when he was detained by Everett police, city officials said. 

DHS also alleged that Berto is a suspected ’33’ gang member and had 11 prior police complaints, including breaking and entering, vandalism, theft, fighting and ‘flash mob’ style shoplifting.

Berto appeared before a judge via Zoom for a bond hearing Thursday where he pled for forgiveness and shared how he misses his mother, The Boston Globe reported.

The judge denied bond, citing how he ‘dangerous’ and a ‘flight risk,’ his lawyer Andrew Lattarulo said. Berto reportedly apologized after the ruling was issued.

He remains in federal custody at a juvenile detention facility in Virginia pending his asylum hearing. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 5. 

The Trump administration has claimed Arthur Yuri De Almeida Silva Berto, 13, was arrested by ICE because he is associated with a gang in Massachusetts 

Lattarulo said that Berto, who allegedly appeared sad during the hearing, asked him when he would be able to ‘come home.’

‘Arthur did actually ask to be heard,’ Lattarulo told WCVB. ‘He told the judge that he’s sorry about everything and the judge can forgive him, but by then the judge had already ruled.’ 

The attorney argued that the ‘severity’ of the allegations ‘hurt’ their case, which he described as being an ‘uphill battle.’

‘We went allegation by allegation, almost even, you could say, line by line. But the judge considered all the evidence, and unfortunately, that’s [the] decision he gave us for now,’ he told the Globe. 

He argued that while the boy’s actions were ‘foolish,’ he is a child and ‘shouldn’t have to pay for his life for that.’

Lattarulo added that Berto being in federal custody was a ‘wake-up call’ for the teen, who he alleged is now ‘maturing’ at a fast pace.

‘I don’t think he’s good. He’s as good as he can be,’ the lawyer told the Globe. ‘When I talked to him, I could tell he’s trying to find strength in his voice, but you still hear the 13-year-old child.’

The teen is a seventh grader at Albert N. Parlin School in Everett, MA

Berto entered the US with his family in September 2021 through the Arizona border, officials said. 

His mother Josiele Berto, who claimed the family came to America in search of a better life, said she never expected something like this to happen to her child.

‘My son is just a child. He’s only thirteen,’ she said in a statement to Newsweek. ‘He was just going about his day, and now he’s been taken from me. Since that moment, I haven’t known if he’s safe or how he’s doing.’

Ms Berto said she is struggling to find the strength to keep it together amid the stress of the situation. She added that younger son asked about his brother daily. 

ICE in Massachusetts has arrested multiple teens as part of what the Trump administration has called Operation Patriot 2.0. Pictured: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem

Berto’s contact with police began in June 2024, when he was allegedly found with known gang members after officers responded to a disturbance report.

The next month Berto was observed on video stealing two bicycles and a cellphone, according to police. 

Last March, after other contact with police, Berto was determined by police to be a ‘high-risk juvenile.’

Berto was allegedly caught on video in May taking part in a 33 gang ‘flash-mob-style’ shoplifting incident at a convenience store. 

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on Thursday saying the teen is a suspected member of the ’33’ gang and has 11 prior police complaints. The latest complaint against the teen is seen above

‘Here are the facts: This individual and suspected gang member posed a public safety threat with an extensive rap sheet, including violent assault with a dangerous weapon, battery, breaking and entering and destruction of property,’ DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously said.

‘Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, federal law enforcement is restoring common sense and law and order to our streets. This public safety threat will stay in juvenile detention pending further proceedings.’

ICE in Massachusetts has arrested multiple teens as part of what the Trump administration has called Operation Patriot 2.0.