A dramatic and disturbing confrontation unfolded Thursday morning on Eureka Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, as federal ICE agents arrested a mother in front of her newborn baby and 16-year-old daughter—sparking outrage from neighbors and a chaotic clash with law enforcement.
The arrest came just a day after her husband was reportedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to local advocacy group LUCE, the mother—described by neighbors as being of Brazilian descent—was targeted during a planned immigration raid, part of a broader “surge” announced by ICE acting director Todd Lyons under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
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Video of the incident has gone viral, showing the woman holding her baby tightly as ICE agents moved in. Her teenage daughter tried to block the federal vehicle from leaving, first holding the baby, then kicking the car after handing the infant to a neighbor. According to NBC Boston, she was slammed to the ground and arrested on four charges, including child endangerment.
The moment quickly escalated as more than 25 neighbors rushed in, demanding warrants and attempting to intervene. “We don’t have to show you anything,” one ICE agent reportedly told the crowd, further fueling the tension. Backup was called, and Worcester police officers arrived, claiming they were there only to maintain peace.
Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring was also arrested during the protest. She allegedly threw an “unknown liquid” at officers and now faces assault and battery charges.
City officials were not notified in advance of the ICE operation, according to statements released later in the day. Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, who joined residents in forming a human ring around the family, denounced the federal action.
“As an elected official, it is my obligation to stand up for my constituents,” she said. “The way immigrants in Worcester and across the Commonwealth are being targeted and terrorized by this federal administration for deportation is absolutely unconstitutional.”
Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty called the incident “devastating,” particularly with Mother’s Day around the corner, saying it represented “the worst nightmare” for immigrant families in the city. City Manager Eric Batista echoed that sentiment, calling the footage “harrowing” and noting that local officers were not there to aid in detainments but rather to control a growing and emotional crowd.
“What kind of person takes a mother away from her family?” one neighbor asked reporters. “Everyone is fed up. It’s disgusting seeing ICE tear families apart.”
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