Latest news with #EtelHaxhiaj
CBS News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Worcester city councilor charged with assaulting police during ICE operation
A Worcester city councilor has been charged with assaulting and interfering with police officers during a chaotic ICE operation in the city last month. District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj can be seen in body camera video when crowds began swarming federal agents on Eureka Street on the morning of May 8. The crowd tried to stop ICE agents from taking a woman into custody. Two other people were arrested during the incident. According to the criminal complaint, Haxhiaj repeatedly identified herself as a Worcester city councilor and was observed "pulling the restraints of the arrested as they were being escorted to the transport vehicle." Police said Haxhiaj ignored requests to move away from the vehicle and allegedly pushed an officer away by striking them in the chest. A few minutes later, while another person was being arrested, Haxhiaj allegedly pulled the officer's arm. Haxhiaj has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with a police officer. The President of the Worcester Police Patrolmen's Union told WBZ Haxhiaj was "inciting the crowd" and video showed "officers acted totally appropriately in a very difficult, chaotic situation." "Targeted and vilified" Haxhiaj released a statement saying she looks forward to responding to the charges in court. "Protecting the most vulnerable should not lead to being targeted and vilified," Haxhiaj said. "And working to improve policing in our city by calling for oversight and accountability should not provoke political grandstanding and attacks." Haxhiaj's arraignment is scheduled for July 23.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Worcester City Councilor facing charges for alleged actions during ICE operation in May
A Worcester City councilor is facing charges for her alleged conduct during an federal immigration operation back in May. Police confirm that District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was charged following an ICE arrest on Eureka Street on May 8. Police did not specify what charges she's facing or when she will appear in court. In a statement, Haxhiaj said she tried to do the right thing. 'I am a mother, an immigrant and elected leader who attempted, along with other Worcester residents, to protect a traumatized young person, two mothers and an infant,' she said. 'I did the humane thing to do in this situation, nothing more, nothing less.' 'Chaotic situation': Two arrested, woman detained as crowd surrounds federal agents in Worcester On that day, a large crowd encircled ICE agents attempting to detain a a Brazilian woman. Video from the scene shows several ICE agents and other law enforcement entities being followed by a crowd while they took the woman into custody. A Worcester School Committee candidate, Ashley Spring, was arrested at the scene for allegedly attacking a police officer. A juvenile female was also arrested for allegedly endangering a child and resisting arrest. Haxhiaj said she is a former refugee who escaped violence living in both Albania and Greece. She says her life calling is to help others. 'Protecting the most vulnerable should not lead to being targeted and vilified,' Haxhiaj said. 'And working to improve policing in our city by calling for oversight and accountability should not provoke political grandstanding and attacks. I look forward to responding to these charges in court.' This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Democrat councilwoman BLOCKS arrest of migrant who beat up her pregnant daughter
Police bodycam footage captured the chaotic moment a Massachusetts councilwoman attempted to block the arrest of a migrant who allegedly beat up her pregnant daughter. The intense encounter took place on May 8 in Worcester - about 50 minutes outside of Boston - when ICE agents confronted a crowd of about 25 'unruly' activists as they tried to arrest Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira. De Oliveira, 40, entered the US illegally in August 2022. While agents attempted to apprehend de Oliveira, who is accused of assaulting her pregnant 16-year-old daughter, Democrat City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was seen grabbing ICE officers and shouting at them to 'get out of our neighborhood.' Following the dramatic incident, authorities said Haxhiaj 'incited aggression towards the police' and 'eventually assaulted both Worcester police and federal law enforcement officers on scene.' The Worcester Police Patrolman's Union also noted that the councilwoman's 'behavior also emboldened others to act in this manner,' as many bystanders were seen filming the moment and also screaming at officers. Officials have called for an ethics investigation to take place following the ordeal, as Massachusetts US Attorney Leah Foley warned that her office will look into anyone who tries to interfere with ICE operations, including elected officials. 'This conduct poses significant public and officer safety risks. It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified,' Foley said. The overwhelming scene began when police officers arrived to help ICE officers who requested assistance with the rowdy crowd. De Oliveira's teenage daughter, dressed in a black and white sweater vest, was seen with her face on the hood of a car as officers surrounded her. Haxhiaj was then seen interfering, as she put her finger in an officer's face before turning to the 16-year-old, screaming: 'Let her go! Do not touch her!' Other people then gathered around the scene as the teen suspect shouted: 'Don't touch me!' 'Don't touch her!,' Haxhiaj then yelled as she shoved an ICE officer's arm and tried to get a hold of the girl. During another moment, the councilwoman was seen arguing with several officers on the sidewalk begging them to let the teenager go. 'She hasn't done anything. She's traumatized. She's my constituent!,' she yelled as officers pushed her back. Haxhiaj added: 'She's my constituent and you're hurting her!' She then questioned why the minor was being arrested, telling officers: 'She has done nothing!' An officer then addressed her as councilor and warned her to back away. He continued: 'Back away and get your hands off of us!' Both de Oliveira and her teenage daughter, who has not been named, were taken into custody after the minor ran after the car her mother was in and kicked its passenger side, according to Mass Live. Just before she ran toward the vehicle, she handed off her sister's child to another person. The juvenile was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She was later released from custody. De Oliveira, who authorities said is a 'violent criminal illegal alien,' has been charged with endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The Worcester Police Department said the investigation is ongoing, Fox News reported.
CBS News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Union president says Worcester officers "acted totally appropriately" during ICE arrest of mother
Worcester Police union says officers do not assist ICE arrests but do answer safety calls Worcester Police union says officers do not assist ICE arrests but do answer safety calls Worcester Police union says officers do not assist ICE arrests but do answer safety calls The President of the Worcester Police Patrolmen's Union says his officers had a measured and restrained response to the crowd that formed while ICE arrested a Brazilian mother on May 8. "The video shows that our officers acted totally appropriately in a very difficult, chaotic situation," Union President Thomas Duffy said. The city released police body camera footage of the incident on the Friday after protests erupted in response to the woman's arrest, and some city officials condemned the behavior of federal officers and Worcester Police. According to dispatch audio, Worcester Police were called to the scene on Eureka Street by ICE agents who said they were being surrounded by a crowd. The body camera footage starts with officers arriving after ICE agents had already had 40-year-old Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira in custody inside a nearby vehicle. Active city councilor at ICE arrest The footage shows a crowd of people around the ICE agents, including Ferreira de Oliveira's two daughters and Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. Near the beginning of the footage, Haxhiaj is seen walking into a group of ICE officers and is pushed away by them. "We had an active city councilor, Etel Haxhiaj, from District 5, who was inciting the crowd, physically touched our officers and federal agents on the scene," Duffy said. At one point, Haxhiaj is seen with one of Ferreira de Oliveira's daughters, who was holding a baby next to the car where her mother was held. "This is my constituent. No, please do not touch me," she told police as they tried to move both of them away from the vehicle. The baby was also passed to the 17-year-old daughter of Ferreira de Oliveira while she was standing in front of the car. Worcester officers told the girl that she was endangering a child. Officers tried to move her away from the car. When the car with her mother inside started driving away, she ran after it, and Worcester police officers chased her, brought her to the ground, and took her into custody. Police did not assist with arrest, union president says Duffy says none of this was done to assist ICE with their arrest. "We don't assist ICE, we were not working in connection with them during this incident, but as part of our oath, we will respond for the safety of any state, federal, local law enforcement agency who calls and needs assistance," he said. Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said the videos were released to "illustrate the chaotic nature of the situation as experienced by the officers who had to make rapid, critical decisions in the moment to ensure the safety of everyone on the scene." Worcester Police are now asking the court to drop charges against the 17-year-old. Also on Friday, Worcester City Manager Eric Batista issued an Executive Order that reaffirmed guidelines for local response and involvement in federal enforcement of immigration laws and operations. The order states that city workers and officers should not inquire or initiate investigations based on immigration status. The city said municipal employees should not participate in a federal agency's operation on immigration laws, "except in response to a request to assist with support services deemed necessary to ensure officer safety; to ensure public safety; to prevent a breach of the peace." Elected officials from Acton, Chelsea, Waltham, and Worcester also signed a letter urging Governor Maura Healey to stop ICE in the state. WBZ-TV reached out to Councilor Haxhiaj for comment, but did not receive a response.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School board candidate arrested in confrontation with ICE on Eureka Street in Worcester
(This story has been updated with new information.) WORCESTER — The arrival of immigration agents on Eureka Street sparked protests and a chorus of claims by Worcester officials that such police action is not welcomed in the city. "Local government cannot abandon its residents the way that the federal administration has turned its back on being known as the land of opportunity," Mayor Joseph Petty wrote in a letter announcing his call for the chief of police to put in writing the Police Department's working relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On May 8, two people were arrested by Worcester police on Eureka Street in a situation involving agents from ICE. Witnesses say the federal agents were at a local residence to detain a woman of Brazilian descent. A crowd of protesters converged on the street, with some clearly angry with the agents. Video of the scene was widely shared on social media. Among those on hand was District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. For a time, she acted as a shield between authorities and the woman who was sought by ICE, according to video of the confrontation. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for ICE said that the agency does not comment on ongoing operations. One of the two people arrested, Ashley R. Spring, a School Committee candidate, spoke to a reporter while in handcuffs, as officers held her at Eureka and Stafford streets before she was taken away in a police vehicle. Spring recently qualified to run on the November ballot for School Committee District A. Police said Spring, 38, of Waconah Road, pushed police officers while they were arresting another person. She allegedly threw a liquid at officers, police said. She is charged with assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with a police officer, among other charges. She was arraigned in Central District Court on May 9 and released on personal recognizance. She is due back in court on June 23. 'The community gathered,' Spring said on Eureka Street while in handcuffs. 'We found out that (ICE) didn't have a warrant. They didn't have not just a judicial warrant. They didn't have a warrant at all. They wouldn't present it. 'The community decided that these women were free to go, and the women decided to go and exercise their right to leave. At that point, the police continued to try to brutalize them, to rip the baby out of the mother's arms, 4-week-old baby, and the community tried to intervene and help them.' Police said officers were called around 11:15 a.m. after learning 'a hostile crowd had surrounded a federal agent.' Police described the crowd as unruly, saying "several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester police officers." 'WPD officers were not initially on scene,' a police spokesman said. Later in the day, City Manager Eric D. Batista issued a statement on the Eureka Street incident: "I want to reassure our community that the municipality will never target individuals based on their immigration status and reaffirm that the City of Worcester and Worcester Police Department does not assist with ICE civil detainments, according to Massachusetts State Law, but may not interfere with it. However, it is the municipality and department's responsibility to uphold the law and protect the peace of our community." The next day, Petty filed an order with the city clerk in which he formally requests that Police Chief Paul Saucier create a written policy on how the department interacts with ICE. Some of those present at the scene on Eureka Street shouted in the direction of Worcester police officers, saying that they were assisting ICE. References were made to statements made by police and city leadership in January, when police and city leadership stated that the city would not coordinate with ICE and that city police would not arrest on the basis of immigration status. Among the few dozen people gathered on Eureka Street about 11:30 a.m. was Haxhiaj. She declined to comment on the situation when approached by a reporter. Jill Phillips of Worcester, who said she witnessed the scene unfold, described an ICE agent refusing to produce a warrant before detaining a woman of Brazilian descent. Phillips said that agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Enforcement and Removal Operations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were also present at the scene. ''We don't have to show you anything,'' Phillips said she was told by an ICE agent. ''She knows what she's supposed to do. She was supposed to report to court today.'' After the woman was placed in a vehicle, witnesses said her daughter followed the vehicle, which is when Worcester police arrested her. Police said that before doing so, the juvenile had also stood in front of the car holding a newborn baby in her arms. After giving the baby to someone else, police said "she ran after the vehicle and kicked the passenger's side of it. "It appeared that she was going to run in front of the moving vehicle, and officers took her into custody," police added. The juvenile is charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, police said. The baby was not injured. Video of the confrontation was posted on social media. It shows both Spring and the juvenile also being placed under arrest. Immigration activists later gathered in front of the Worcester County Courthouse for updates on the arrests. City Council Vice Chair Khrystian E. King was on hand. "It's important that people know their rights,' King said. 'These sorts of occurrences result in impacting families.' Petty said he has asked for a report on the incident. "As someone who prides themselves on leading a welcoming city, I am devastated to hear about the separation of a family, especially with Mother's Day around the corner," Petty said in a statement. "The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city." This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: School board candidate arrested in confrontation with ICE on Eureka St.
