Protest of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest in Massachusetts turned chaotic and has a local police union calling for charges against a city councilmember for inciting the mob.
ICE accused Worcester’s District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj of pulling “a political stunt,” alleging she “incited chaos by trying to obstruct law enforcement. ICE officers and local police regained control of the situation and ICE arrested Ferreira de Oliveira.”
(Video Credit: WCVB Channel 5 Boston)
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ferreira de Oliveira was arrested by Worcester police for “assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a pregnant victim.”
Here is full statement given to @SpecNews1Worc from @DHSgov regarding Thursday’s incident on Eureka Street involving @EROBoston and @WorcesterPD. pic.twitter.com/CFzWrrKAKP
— Spectrum News 1 Worcester (@SpecNews1Worc) May 10, 2025
Dozens of protesters chanted and became aggressive, including the daughter of the apprehended de Oliveira, who reportedly entered the country illegally in August 2022. The woman’s daughter even reportedly stood in front of the unmarked ICE vehicle while holding a baby.
The Worcester Police Patrolman’s Union called for charges against Haxhiaj, blasting the elected official who “incited aggression towards the police during the incident.”
“This councilor participated in the conduct of the unruly crowd and eventually assaulted both Worcester police and federal law enforcement officers on scene,” the union said in a statement. “Her behavior also emboldened others to act in this manner. The conduct of this anti-police activist is unacceptable and deplorable.”
Full statement from police union. pic.twitter.com/vHCrdx1sys
— Spectrum News 1 Worcester (@SpecNews1Worc) May 10, 2025
“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,” the union President Thomas Duffy said in the statement. “The Worcester Police Patrolman’s Union Local 911 will not stand silently in the face of such outrageous conduct or allow the safety of our officers to be put at risk by any individual.”
“Any official, particularly a sitting councilor, who acts in such a manner is, in the opinions of those of us ordered to keep the peace during such hostilities, unfit to serve,” Duffy said.
“This councilor’s egregious actions were not limited to physical interference, as she attempted to use her official position several times to interfere with the police on scene,” the statement continued.
“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,” Duffy said. “The members of the Worcester Police Patrolmen’s Union Local 911 condemn this councilor’s disrespectful and dangerous behavior.”
(Video Credit: MassLive)
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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