Tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement are rising in Massachusetts, as U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley announced that any interference with operations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will now face legal consequences.
“This kind of behavior is alarming,” Foley said in a statement released on May 14, as reported by The Latin Times. “It endangers both the public and law enforcement officers. It is conduct that should be condemned, not celebrated.”
While Foley did not cite any specific incident, she signaled that her office will investigate any actions that may hinder ICE operations and will pursue criminal charges in collaboration with federal partners where appropriate.
Her remarks follow a confrontation on May 8 in Worcester, where a planned ICE arrest escalated into a chaotic scene. Federal agents took Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira, a 40-year-old Brazilian national, into custody in a residential neighborhood. Video footage recorded by bystanders and circulated on social media shows roughly 30 people gathering at the scene, demanding to see a warrant and attempting to prevent the arrest.
The situation quickly intensified. De Oliveira’s underage daughter was arrested after physically intervening while holding an infant. Another individual, Ashley Spring—a local school committee candidate—was also taken into custody. She faces multiple charges, including assaulting a police officer.
Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was also present during the incident. Footage appears to show her stepping between federal agents and the woman being detained. Her actions have sparked criticism from the local police union, which has called for an ethics investigation, accusing her of misconduct.
In the days following the incident, several protests erupted across Worcester, denouncing ICE’s intervention and expressing support for those arrested. Haxhiaj’s supporters have praised her for standing up for immigrant rights, while others have accused her of obstructing federal law enforcement.
De Oliveira remains in custody at a Rhode Island detention facility. She is facing charges in an unrelated case stemming from a February incident in which she is alleged to have assaulted her pregnant daughter.
Foley’s statement signals a clear hardening of stance from the federal prosecutor’s office. It sends a pointed message to public officials, activists, and citizens alike: obstructing ICE operations will be treated as a serious offense.
