Worcester Councilor Accused of Inciting Chaos During ICE Arrest
A controversy has erupted in Worcester, Massachusetts, following the arrest of a Brazilian national by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj of inciting chaos and obstructing law enforcement during the operation, which led to a tense confrontation between authorities and a group of local residents.
The incident occurred on Thursday when ICE agents arrested Ferreira de Oliveira, described by DHS as a "violent criminal alien." According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Oliveira had been previously arrested by local police for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a pregnant woman. McLaughlin also stated that Oliveira had illegally entered the United States in August 2022, blaming the previous administration’s border policies.
Video footage of the arrest quickly surfaced online, showing a crowd of approximately 25 people gathering and disrupting the operation. The video captures residents chanting slogans such as "don’t take the mother" and "no warrant" as a woman, presumably Oliveira, was escorted into an SUV by uniformed ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The footage also shows women placing their hands on the vehicle’s hood and screaming in protest before the SUV drove away.
The Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union issued a press release detailing the events, stating that police were dispatched to the scene after federal law enforcement officers requested assistance due to a hostile and uncooperative crowd. According to the union, the situation escalated rapidly, prompting officers to call for additional support.
The union emphasized the emotional nature of such incidents, stating that "there is nothing that can be more emotional or difficult to deal with than a call that involves times when families are separated or arrested or taken into custody in front of other family members." They added that these types of situations can be "extremely dangerous and place officers at a high risk of injury due to the high emotions people feel at the time."
The Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union further alleged that federal and local authorities were "threatened, abused and even assaulted" at the scene and condemned such conduct as intolerable. They stated that additional arrests were made because some protesters threatened officers’ safety.
The union’s statement specifically targeted Councilor Haxhiaj, accusing her of inciting aggression towards the police during the incident. "Of particular concern in this case, one of our elected policy makers and someone who has created this difficult task for the police, District 5 City Councilor, Etel Haxhiaj, incited aggression towards the police during the incident," the union said. "This councilor participated in the conduct of the unruly crowd and eventually assaulted both Worcester police and federal law enforcement officers on scene. Her behavior also emboldened others to act in this manner."
The union described Haxhiaj’s conduct as "deplorable and unacceptable" and asserted that "regardless of political opinions or views, city officials should never condone the assault of an officer and flat-out disregard to the point of violent opposition, the authority of police to maintain safety and public order."
As a result of Haxhiaj’s alleged actions, the Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union has called for an ethics investigation into her behavior and vowed to hold her and others who assaulted their officers accountable. "No one has the right to act in such a reckless manner towards police officers, and we demand accountability for all criminal and ethically deplorable behavior," the union stated.
Councilor Haxhiaj has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
In addition to the allegations against Haxhiaj, the Worcester Police Department reported that 38-year-old Ashley Spring of Worcester was also arrested during the chaotic events. According to police, Spring "pushed multiple officers" and "threw an unknown liquid substance on them." She has been charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (unknown liquid), Disorderly Conduct, and Interfering with a Police Officer.
The Worcester Police Department has stated that the "chaotic incident is still under investigation" and that further charges may be forthcoming.
The incident has sparked a heated debate in Worcester, with some residents defending Haxhiaj’s actions as a form of protest against what they perceive as unjust immigration policies, while others condemn her alleged behavior as a dangerous and unacceptable attack on law enforcement. The call for an ethics investigation into Haxhiaj’s conduct is likely to further fuel the controversy and could have significant political ramifications for the city councilor. The case also highlights the broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States and the often-contentious relationship between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
