Former Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj walked out of Worcester District Court yesterday with a split verdict and a misdemeanor conviction that is likely to shadow her political future. A jury found her guilty of assault and battery on a police officer for her role in a tense May encounter involving federal immigration agents, while acquitting her on a separate charge of interfering with police. Judge Zachary Hillman handed down a sentence of six months of probation and 40 hours of community service. Outside the courthouse, Haxhiaj said she is considering an appeal and told reporters that "the truth did not win."
Split Verdict After Jurors Watch Bodycam Video
The decision capped a two-day trial where jurors pored over body-worn camera footage and heard from officers and bystanders who were on the scene. Prosecutors from the Northwestern District Attorney's office, brought in to avoid a local conflict of interest, argued that the video and testimony showed Haxhiaj intentionally pushed Officer Shauna McGuirk, according to The Boston Globe.
How A Quiet Street Turned Into An ICE Flashpoint
The confrontation unfolded on May 8, 2025, on Eureka Street, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a woman and neighbors clustered around the transport vehicle, according to video and witness accounts reported by NBC Boston. Earlier coverage captured the police union's ethics-probe push and the street-level protest that followed.
Prosecutors Say Assault, Defense Says Protection
In court, prosecutors insisted the case was not about silencing protest but about whether Haxhiaj crossed the line into a physical assault on an officer. Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne told jurors that while peaceful political protest is protected, "physical assault on law enforcement officers is not," as GBH News reported.
Haxhiaj and her attorney countered that she stepped in to protect constituents during a volatile ICE operation and that any physical contact with police was defensive, not aggressive. After the verdict, she repeated that position on the courthouse steps, according to WCVB.
City Hall Scrambles To Redraw ICE Ground Rules
The high-profile clash pushed Worcester officials to clarify where the city stands on civil immigration enforcement. On May 16, 2025, City Manager Eric D. Batista issued an executive order spelling out limits on municipal involvement with ICE. The city updated that policy on February 4, 2026, to bar federal agents from using city property to stage civil immigration operations, according to a press release from the City of Worcester. City leaders say the changes are meant to safeguard immigrant residents while still maintaining public safety as the political and legal fallout continues.
What The Verdict Means For Haxhiaj
For now, Haxhiaj faces probation and community service while her legal team weighs a possible appeal. The misdemeanor conviction could still carry legal and political baggage for the former councilor, who already lost her District 5 seat in the November election. The verdict closes a chapter in a saga that has kept ICE operations and local police conduct at the center of Worcester's political fight, as GBH News noted.
