Tensions between local government and law enforcement in Worcester escalated after City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was accused by the police union of contributing to hostility during a federal immigration arrest. The incident occurred on Thursday on Eureka Street, where Worcester Police were assisting ICE agents with the detention of a Brazilian woman in front of her family, leading to a tense situation, as reported by Boston 25 News.
During the confrontation, videos show Haxhiaj engaging in the situation, defending a teenage girl—reportedly the detainee's daughter—who was later arrested. This incident has prompted a call for an ethics investigation into Haxhiaj's conduct, with the Worcester Police Patrol Officers' Union claiming that her actions created a safety risk for officers present. Union president Thomas Duffy saying "her behavior also emboldened others to act in this manner" as stated in a report from Boston 25 News, escalating the situation which saw Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, 38, arrested after she was accused of pushing officers and throwing a liquid on them.
Haxhiaj, who responded to the situation as the representative of the district in which the arrest was made, argued for a less forceful approach from law enforcement, telling a city police officer, "All you needed to do was just have one of us hold her and contain her. You didn’t have to take her. This is what we talk about, this is what we talk about. Your use of force is unnecessary," according to the Boston Herald.
Meanwhile, authorities contend that the situation was high risk and the mobilization of all available police officers was necessary "to protect the public and ensure the safety of federal and Worcester police officers on scene," as Duffy stated in the Boston Herald report, the same report notes that Spring has been released on personal recognizance with not guilty pleas entered on her behalf, and she is expected back in court on June 23 for charges including assault and battery on a police officer.
As city officials address the implications of the incident, Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty has filed an order requesting "a written policy on how we interact with ICE as a City," aiming to establish clearer guidelines for such situations. Petty's request highlights the need for local governance to define its approach in relation to federal actions. The case is under review as the city evaluates the actions of both the councilor and the responding officers, as noted by the Boston Herald.
