An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeting a violent illegal immigrant suspect spiraled into chaos Friday in Worcester, MA — a scene that officials say was deliberately escalated by a city council member and a political ally.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Worcester Police Patrolman’s Union have publicly condemned Worcester District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, accusing her of “inciting aggression towards the police” and “assaulting both local and federal officers” during the arrest of Ferreira de Oliveira, a woman DHS says entered the country illegally in 2022 and was recently charged with multiple violent crimes, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault on a pregnant woman. (RELATED: Illegal Immigration Thoroughfare Left Trashed, Environmentally Damaged As Migrant Influx Subsides)
The arrest operation quickly descended into a “chaotic melee” when neighbors began protesting the ICE action — reportedly chanting “No warrant!” and “Not the mother!” — as the suspect was taken into custody, according to statements from law enforcement and DHS.
Haxhiaj was seen in the midst of the crowd, allegedly attempting to obstruct the arrest and encouraging resistance, per a statement from the police union. The union further accused the council member of physically assaulting both Worcester police and federal ICE officers during the confrontation.
“Councilor Haxhiaj, in our opinion, broke her oath and these ethical laws, and in doing so put the safety of our officers and our citizens at great risk,” the statement read. It called for an immediate ethics investigation by the city and urged federal authorities to take legal action against her.
Also involved in the protest was Ashley Spring, a candidate for the Worcester School Board, who police say similarly interfered with the arrest and assaulted officers. She is now facing multiple charges, including assault and battery on a police officer, the New York Post reported.
Ferreira de Oliveira’s daughter reportedly ran toward the unmarked ICE vehicle with her own infant in hand and kicked the car’s passenger side in an effort to block the arrest, Mass Live reported. She was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, according to the New York Post.
DHS defended the arrest, stating that the suspect posed a threat to public safety and that ICE agents were acting within their legal authority. In a statement obtained by Spectrum Worcester, DHS said, “Etel Haxhiaj pulled a political stunt and incited chaos by trying to obstruct law enforcement.”
The agency said that their apprehension of Ferreira de Oliveira was based on violent criminal charges and stressed that her immigration status was illegal.
The Worcester Police Department said the investigation into the chaotic incident is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed as new evidence emerges. Local officials have not yet responded to the union’s call for disciplinary action against Councilor Haxhiaj.
The incident has reignited debate over sanctuary policies and the role of local officials in immigration enforcement, as community members and political leaders brace for the legal and political fallout from Friday’s confrontation.
