‘A dangerous precedent’: Worcester residents outraged over ICE confrontation verdict
After former Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was found guilty of assaulting a police officer during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest and not guilty of interfering with police during the arrest, several residents expressed disappointment, anger and worry over the verdict.
"Massachusetts and Worcester dropped the ball on this with this verdict against Etel Haxhiaj," said Worcester resident Yenni Desroches. "Not only have we not set public policy that protects our community and local law enforcement when ICE inserts themselves but we have chosen as a society to prosecute the few who stood up anyway."
On Worcester's Eureka Street the morning of May 8, Haxhiaj and a crowd of more than 30 people confronted ICE agents as they arrested Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, a 40-year-old mother from Brazil. The scene was chaotic as Ferreira-De Oliveira's adult and teenage daughter screamed as they saw their mother being taken away. The mother was released in October 2025 after being granted asylum .
Worcester police arrived at the scene and tried to move people away from the agents. One officer, Shauna McGuirk, pulled Haxhiaj away from a vehicle that agents placed the mother inside. As she was pulled away, Haxhiaj's hands touched McGuirk, according to footage from a body camera worn by the officer.
The councilor was charged with assault and battery on a police officer and interference with police. On Feb. 11, a jury convicted Haxhiaj on the assault charge but acquitted her on the interference charge.
Joshua Croke, who uses they/them pronouns, was at the trial when the verdict was announced. They said they were angry over what happened to Haxhiaj and believe the charges were filed to punish her.
"We need Worcester to move from reaction to responsibility," Croke said.
Cara Brown, another Worcester resident, was not only angry at the verdict but also at city officials.
"How much city and state time and money was spent on a political stunt," Brown said. "Or worse, a very expensive warning to anyone else in the community who cares to try and protect their neighbors from ICE?"
After the verdict was handed down, Haxhiaj was sentenced to six months of probation and 40 hours of community service.
"She honestly could have received a much bigger sentence," said Worcester resident Angela Stockdale. "I think maybe they are trying to make a statement that you mess with officials you will pay the price."
Some Worcester politicians have spoken out in support of Haxhiaj following the end of the trial.
On Friday, Council Vice Chair and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King released a statement, saying that during the chaos, Haxhiaj "stepped in to protect a family and uphold constitutional rights."
Jose Rivera, who defeated Haxhiaj in the November 2025 municipal election , told MassLive on Thursday that while Haxhiaj was entitled to her beliefs, those beliefs led to "consequences."
"The trial itself was a direct result of Etel Haxhiaj's decision to take the matter to trial, further demonstrating her commitment to her convictions," Rivera said.
On Nov. 16, City Manager Eric D. Batista announced an executive order stating that city resources will not be used for immigration enforcement. The order also states that Worcester police officers will not perform the duties of ICE agents and that municipal employees will not be involved in civil immigration enforcement.
This month, Batista amended the executive order, banning ICE from using city property to conduct immigration operations.
Despite these new policies, residents such as Desroches told MassLive they are worried what will happen if another Eureka Street-like operation happens again.
"This sets a dangerous precedent," Desroches said about the results of the trial. "Citizens have been murdered in this country for standing up for what is right and this case set an unfortunate precedent for how those who survive will be treated."
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