UPDATE: Police Charge Massachusetts City Councilor For Actions During ICE Raid

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A city councilor in Massachusetts has been charged for assaulting and interfering with police officers during a chaotic ICE raid.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj of ‘inciting chaos’ while ICE agents were making an arrest.

City Council Member Accused Of Inciting Chaotic Protest And Assaulting Officers During Arrest Of “Violent Criminal Alien”

“District Councilor for the City of Worcester [Etel] Haxhiaj pulled a political stunt and incited chaos by trying to obstruct law enforcement. ICE officers and local police regained control of the situation and ICE arrested Ferreira de Oliveira,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin previously said, according to Fox News.

“The previous administration’s open border policies allowed this criminal to illegally enter our country in August of 2022. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem this criminal is off our streets,” she added.

CBS News reports:

District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj can be seen in body camera video when crowds began swarming federal agents on Eureka Street on the morning of May 8. The crowd tried to stop ICE agents from taking a woman into custody.

Two other people were arrested during the incident.

According to the criminal complaint, Haxhiaj repeatedly identified herself as a Worcester city councilor and was observed “pulling the restraints of the arrested as they were being escorted to the transport vehicle.”

Police said Haxhiaj ignored requests to move away from the vehicle and allegedly pushed an officer away by striking them in the chest. A few minutes later, while another person was being arrested, Haxhiaj allegedly pulled the officer’s arm.

WATCH:

Per NBC10 Boston:

The police department reportedly sought three charges against the city councilor on May 12 — the two she faces and a second count of assault and battery on a police officer — but an assistant clerk-magistrate found at a closed-door hearing on June 4 that there was probable cause for two of them.

The newspaper noted that a lower standard of proof is required for the finding than would be needed for a conviction.

In a statement to NBC10 Boston Wednesday, the Worcester Police Department did not elaborate on its allegations against Haxhiaj.

“She was charged criminally, not arrested,” the department said. “The charges were filed shortly after the incident.

Haxhiaj responded to the charges on social media.

“Our community continues to be shocked and devastated by the events on Eureka Street as our country staggers from political upheaval. It is frustrating to now be targeted by this criminal prosecution as well,” she said in a statement. “I am a mother, an immigrant and elected leader who attempted, along with other Worcester residents, to protect a traumatized young person, two mothers and an infant. I did the humane thing to do in this situation, nothing more, nothing less.”



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