Massachusetts ICE arrest disrupted by ‘unruly’ crowd, leading to 2 arrests

A tense video has emerged from Worcester, Massachusetts, showing a chaotic scene as a crowd of about 25 people disrupted an ICE arrest of a woman. The footage, captured on Thursday, shows residents chanting “don’t take the mother!” and “no warrant!” as ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents attempted to take the woman into custody.

The situation escalated as other women placed their hands on the front hood of the SUV and screamed in protest, refusing to let the vehicle leave. A CBP agent and a bystander were seen shoving each other as tensions ran high. The Worcester Police Department eventually arrived on the scene and declared it an unlawful assembly, threatening arrest if the crowd did not disperse.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty expressed his dismay at the events, stating, “I am disturbed to hear about today’s events involving ICE. 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.” He also emphasized the importance of receiving a full report on the incident and criticized ICE for not notifying the city about the detainment.

The Worcester Police Department responded to the scene after receiving reports of a federal agent being surrounded by a large group of people. The officers observed a chaotic situation with federal agents attempting to take the woman into custody. The crowd became unruly, with individuals putting their hands on the agents and officers in an effort to prevent the arrest.

As the vehicle attempted to leave, a juvenile female holding a newborn baby stood in front of the car, endangering the child. The officers intervened, and the woman was eventually taken into custody. Another woman, Ashley Spring, was also arrested for pushing multiple officers and throwing a liquid substance at them.

The Worcester Police Department stated that the incident is still under investigation, and further charges may be filed. The tense confrontation highlights the deep emotions surrounding immigration enforcement and the fear of families being torn apart. It also underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining order in such volatile situations.