Mother arrested in chaotic Worcester ICE operation granted asylum
A Brazilian mother of three who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Worcester was granted asylum in the United States on Tuesday.
Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira was taken away by ICE agents in front of two of her daughters and a crowd of angry bystanders on Eureka Street on May 8. The arrest sent shockwaves through Worcester, resulting in protests against ICE and the Worcester Police Department, who were called to the street.
On Tuesday, immigration Judge Yul-Mi Cho granted asylum for Ferreira-De Oliveira, who is currently detained at the Strafford County Corrections facility in Dover, New Hampshire, according to her lawyer, Paul Toland. Ferreira-De Oliveira can now stay in the United States, now that she has been granted asylum, he told MassLive.
Toland said that the Department of Homeland Security has the right to appeal the judge's decision and have until 30 days to file said appeal. During the 30 day period, the mother of three will still remain in custody, according to Toland.
Pandemonium broke out on Eureka Street during the morning of May 8, as more than 30 people shouted at the ICE agents arresting Ferreira-De Oliveira. The mother was placed inside a gold SUV on the street, as bystanders demanded the agents show a warrant for the arrest.
After 11 a.m., Worcester police officers arrived on Eureka Street and told the crowd they created an unlawful assembly. Some police officers stood by the gold SUV and urged people to move away. As the vehicle began to move, Ferreira-De Oliveira's 17-year old daughter ran after it. Police rushed after the teenager and subsequently arrested her.
The daughter was charged with the reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but Police Chief Paul Saucier requested a judge to dismiss her case.
Worcester police also charged two other people who were present at the ICE arrest. District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and one common law violation for interfering with a police officer. Former School Committee Candidate Ashley Spring was charged with misdemeanors of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers.
Both Spring and Haxhiaj have sought to dismiss these charges, with Haxhiaj describing them as "bogus". A district judge will provide an update on the motions to dismiss on Nov. 19.
A month after the arrest, Augusta Clara Moura, along with her infant son, moved from the United States to Brazil to be with her partner .
The 17-year-old, along with Ferreira-De Oliveira's 13-year-old daughter, were placed into the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
It was reported in July, however, that both daughters had gone missing. The 13-year-old was found safe in August and is back in the care of the DCF. The 17-year-old is still reported as missing, according to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children but a lawyer for the family previously told MassLive that she is with her older sister in Brazil .
Toland said he is not sure what will happen to the children now that his client has been granted asylum.
More Worcester Stories
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
