WORCESTER, Ma. — A court hearing to consider dismissing charges against Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj has been postponed until Nov. 19, giving the judge additional time to review police body camera footage related to her alleged interference in a federal immigration arrest.
Haxhiaj, a progressive Democrat representing District 5 and currently seeking reelection, was charged on June 4 with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and a common law violation of interfering with a police officer. The charges stem from a May 8 incident during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation on Eureka Street.
The confrontation occurred as ICE agents attempted to arrest Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, a 40-year-old Brazilian national who was being taken into federal custody. During the arrest, Haxhiaj approached the agents and physically engaged by grabbing the detainee’s arm. Officers then removed her from the immediate area.
Body camera footage released by Worcester police shows Haxhiaj and the detainee’s daughter, Augusta Clara Moura, standing close to the SUV where Ferreira De Oliveira was being detained. A Worcester police officer directed both individuals to move away. The video shows the officer briefly making physical contact with Clara Moura and an ICE agent issuing a warning that their actions could constitute interference.
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The incident has become part of a broader debate over the role of local officials in immigration enforcement. In cities like Worcester, opposition to federal immigration authorities has grown among progressive activists and elected leaders, raising concerns among law enforcement advocates about safety, jurisdiction, and the undermining of legal authority.
Supporters of Haxhiaj argue that her actions were driven by concern for a constituent, but others see her conduct as an inappropriate and potentially dangerous interference with federal law enforcement. The case has added fuel to ongoing national conversations around ICE, immigration policy, and the limits of local resistance to federal authority.
The outcome of the November hearing may affect Haxhiaj’s political future as she campaigns for another term on the City Council. The judge will determine whether the charges will be dismissed or allowed to proceed to trial.
