Rep. Seth Moulton is facing strong criticism after revelations about his State of the Union “guest of honor.”
Moulton brought 19-year-old Marcelo Gomes da Silva of Milford, Massachusetts as his guest to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
The invitation drew scrutiny after reports said Gomes da Silva was referenced in two Milford Police Department reports from 2021 involving sexual assault and juveniles.
Gomes da Silva immigrated from Brazil at age six on a visitor visa that later became a student visa that expired several years prior.
In May 2025, when he was 18 and a high school junior, ICE agents detained him while he was driving to volleyball practice.
The agents were initially targeting his father, João Paulo Gomes-Pereira, for alleged reckless driving infractions, including speeds over 100 mph in residential areas and other traffic violations dating back to 2014.
Shortly before the speech, the Department of Homeland Security posted that Gomes da Silva was “an illegal alien who has no right to be in our nation.”
Moulton explained his decision to invite Gomes da Silva in a post on X following the DHS tweet.
“Marcelo has been in the U.S. since he was 6 years old.”
“Zero criminal record.”
“You’re not making anyone safer by targeting him.”
“You’re just proving how far you’ll go to terrorize young people trying to build a future in this country.”
Because of the DHS post, Moulton’s staff escorted Gomes da Silva out of the House chamber around 9:45 p.m. as a precaution, and he watched the remainder of the speech from Moulton’s office.
A video recorded before the event shows Moulton and Gomes da Silva discussing preparations, with Gomes da Silva expressing excitement despite anticipating challenging content in the speech, particularly regarding family separations.
On Thursday, the Boston Herald reported that Gomes da Silva was referenced in two Milford Police Department reports from June and September 2021 related to incidents involving sexual assault and juveniles.
The reports were obtained via public records requests to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office and the Milford Police Department.
Police confirmed Gomes da Silva’s involvement but declined to release further details because the incidents involved minors.
Multiple sources, including Moulton’s office and prior ICE statements from 2025, have consistently noted he has no criminal record.
His only known prior legal issues were related to his immigration status and a 2023 traffic citation for failing to stop or yield that resulted in a $100 fine and dropped charges.
His father’s driving record includes citations for failing to yield and driving with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender.
Moulton’s office said on February 25, 2026 that Gomes da Silva’s early departure was a precaution following the DHS tweet and has not publicly addressed the police reports as of March 5.
