MILFORD — Immigration and Customs Enforcement is under fire after briefly detaining a 16-year-old Milford High School student in the country illegally — then letting him go within hours and stressing that “we don’t target kids.”

The teen, identified as Gustavo Oliveira, was stopped Friday near Draper Park when ICE agents pulled over a car during what they called a “targeted enforcement operation.” Officials said two non-citizens bolted from the vehicle on foot, leaving Oliveira behind.

Agents detained him to confirm his identity, but quickly released him once they realized he was a minor. ICE says it contacted his parents, who allegedly refused to pick him up, so agents returned him home themselves.

“ICE does not target children,” the agency insisted in a statement, calling the detention brief and unavoidable.

It’s the second time in just a few months that a Milford teenager without legal status has been swept up in an ICE operation — only to walk free almost immediately. In May, 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes da Silva was taken into custody before being released a week later, sparking protests and rallies across the state.

On Monday, Oliveira arrived with his mother and lawyer at an immigration office in Burlington as supporters gathered outside. Activists cheered his release, while critics pointed to yet another instance of ICE grabbing underage illegals, then bowing to pressure and letting them walk.

For now, the Milford teen is back in class — and ICE is left defending a policy that turns high-profile arrests into quick releases.