Federal authorities say the woman detained amid the chaotic ICE operation in Worcester had been previously arrested on charges that include assault and battery on a pregnant victim.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has identified the target of Thursday’s operation as “violent criminal illegal alien” Ferreira de Oliviera.
“The previous administration’s open border policies allowed this criminal to illegally enter our country in August of 2022,” McLaughlin said in a scathing statement shared with the Herald on Saturday. “Thanks to President Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem this criminal is off our streets.”
McLaughlin did not disclose when and where de Oliviera was previously arrested on charges of assault and battery on a pregnant victim and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Worcester Police spokesperson Lt. Sean Murtha told the Herald that the city department doesn’t “generally comment on past arrests after someone has already been arraigned.”
McLaughlin also slammed City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj for responding to the scene of the ICE action, which unfolded in a neighborhood that Haxhiaj represents. The councilor is seen in videos posted on social media confronting police officers.
Haxhiaj told one of the officers, “I am trying to protect my constituent. I have the right to be here. I am the city councilor, and I am protecting my constituents.” The councilor also said, “All you needed to do was just have one of us hold her and contain her. You didn’t have to take her. … Your use of force is unnecessary.”
Haxhiaj was referring to the teenage girl who witnesses at the scene have said is the daughter of the woman detained by ICE. City police arrested the juvenile female on charges of reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
“District Councilor for the City of Worcester Haxhiaj pulled a political stunt and incited chaos by trying to obstruct law enforcement,” McLaughlin said in her statement. “ICE officers and local police regained control of the situation and ICE (arrested) Ferreira de Oliveira.”
Haxhiaj did not immediately respond to a Herald request for comment.
The city councilor and over two dozen residents responded to Eureka Street after the presence of federal agents in the neighborhood sparked anger Thursday morning. Worcester Police responded to the area to help deal with the “hostile crowd” after initially not being at the scene.
State Sen. Peter Durant, a Republican who represents “more than 15,000 citizens of Worcester,” is also calling out Haxhiaj’s actions for “escalating” a “perilous” situation and “placing the community at risk.”
“It is easy to make a public spectacle of an ICE arrest and to spin what’s seen in video clips to suit political agendas but doing so without all the facts sets a dangerous precedent,” Durant said Saturday morning in a statement posted on Facebook.
“In this case,” he added, “an elected official was seen on video trying to stop the arrest of a person charged with crimes in the city. Anyone who obstructs law enforcement needs to be held accountable.”
The Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union demands that the city perform an ethics investigation into Haxhiaj’s conduct.
City police also arrested School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, 39, accused of shoving police officers and interfering with federal immigration agents during the “unruly” altercation. Spring was released on personal recognizance after a Worcester judge entered not guilty pleas on her behalf during an arraignment on Friday.
McLaughlin touted how parents “who are here illegally, can take control of their departure.”
“Through the CBP Home App – the Trump Administration is giving parents illegally in the country a chance to take full control of their departure and self-deport,” she stated, “with the potential ability to return the legal, right way and come back to live the American dream.”