Several residents in Worcester, Massachusetts surrounded an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle on Thursday in an attempt to stop agents from taking a woman into custody.
Video shows about two dozen resident’s swarming the ICE vehicle and demanding agents identify themselves as they tried to take the woman, clinging to her 1-year-old baby, into custody.
Advocates told Boston.com that the father was detained by ICE on Wednesday, and agents returned to their home Thursday and arrested the mother “without a warrant.”
Worcester police said officers responded to the scene around 11:13 a.m. for a “report of a federal agent who was surrounded by a large group.” Another person called to report that ICE agents were refusing to show a warrant to the crowd.
Police said the federal agents had placed the woman under arrest and were attempting to leave, when the crowd tried to stop them, according to CBS News.
“The crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving,” Worcester police said in a statement.
Two people were arrested including the woman’s 16-year-old daughter.
Police said the girl was holding her sibling and stood in front of the ICE vehicle as it was about to leave. She handed the baby off to someone else and then allegedly kicked the car.
The girl was arrested on four charges including reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
The baby was not detained by ICE and wasn’t injured.
Another woman, 38-year-old Ashley Spring, was arrested for allegedly throwing an unknown liquid on and pushed multiple officers who were attempting to arrest the 16-year-old .
Spring faces several charges including assault and battery on a police officer. She is currently a candidate for Worcester School Committee.
Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said the city was not notified by ICE about the arrest and he was disturbed by the incident.
“As someone who prides themselves on leading a welcoming city, I am devastated to hear about the separation of a family, especially with Mother’s Day around the corner,” Petty said. “The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city.”
City Manager Eric Batista said Worcester police officers tried to deescalate “the chaotic situation.”
“The series of events was no doubt disturbing and the footage of a family being separated is harrowing … My heart goes out to all those impacted by today’s events and the growing tension we all feel due to the national political climate,” Batista said.
Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj who was one of the residents trying to protect the mother and children said “it is my obligation to stand up for my constituents.”
“The way immigrants in Worcester and across the Commonwealth are being targeted and terrorized by this federal administration for deportation is absolutely unconstitutional,” Haxhiaj said.
