A Worcester woman taken into custody by immigration enforcement during a chaotic scene last week was separately arrested and charged with assaulting her daughter in February.
Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, 40, is facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon against a pregnant victim. In court records, police said she used a phone cord in the assault on her 16-year-old daughter. The mother’s bail conditions stipulated that she not contact her daughter during the proceedings.
At a hearing Tuesday in Worcester District Court, Judge Zachary Hillman lifted the no-contact order but kept in place one that prevents the two from living in the same home.
Ferreira De Oliveira was not present in court for the hearing; according to an ICE detainee locator, she is being held at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island. Her public defender, Sarah Amorin, said she has been able to contact Ferreira De Oliveira, but would not comment on her well being.
“She’s presumed innocent right now,” Amorin said. “And I’m going to pursue the process and see if the commonwealth can meet their burden to prove her guilty or not. And that, I think would hopefully help the federal authorities make a decision in their situation.”
An ICE spokesman said Ferreira De Oliveira, a native of Brazil, was taken into custody because she is in the country illegally, and that the state criminal charges are a separate matter.
ICE agents took Ferreira De Oliveira into custody on Eureka Street in Worcester on May 8, as more than two dozen people surrounded the agents, asking to see a warrant and trying to prevent the arrest. A massive crew of Worcester police came to hold the crowd at bay; they arrested two people, including Ferreira De Oliveira’s daughter, who was among those trying to prevent her mother’s arrest.
Worcester police also arrested Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, for allegedly throwing an unknown liquid and pushing officers who were trying to arrest Ferreira De Oliveira’s daughter.
It’s not clear who is representing Ferreira De Oliveira in her immigration case. Attorney Andrew Georges Lattarulo, who is representing other family members, said he is not involved with her case.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office indicated it has sent a letter to federal immigration officials asking to “preserve the prosecution” of the criminal charges against Ferreira De Oliveira. A spokesperson for the DA’s office did not respond to a request for a copy of the letter.
Amorin told the judge a caseworker from the state Department of Children and Families indicated the no-contact order was “presenting an issue” in dealing with medical and legal issues because her daughter is a juvenile.
Ferreira De Oliveira’s arrest has sparked local outrage, with hundreds of people protesting in Worcester over the weekend. Another rally is scheduled at Worcester City Hall for Tuesday night, prompting Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty to close city hall as of 5 p.m. Tuesday and holding a scheduled council meeting virtually.
Petty said city workers are worried about their safety and he is investigating the arrest and the role of Worcester police.
“In an abundance of caution and the hope that the many questions raised can be answered, I have decided to schedule today’s City Council meeting as fully remote in the hope of easing tensions and to provide more time to get information to the community,” Petty said in a statement. “I recognize that some do not agree with this decision, but as Mayor I feel it is my responsibility to keep people safe as we seek to bring people together and get answers.”
Worcester City Council Vice Chairman Khrystian King issued a statement Tuesday supporting fellow City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. Federal officials reportedly accused Haxhiaj of inciting the crowd and obstructing federal agents during last week’s high-profile arrest. King has asked for an investigation and said Haxhiaj was defending her constituents.
“She stood up against a system that has too often trampled due process and
constitutional rights — especially under the Trump administration,” King’s statement said. “That’s not grandstanding. That’s moral leadership.”
A bench trial on the criminal charges against Ferreira De Oliveira is scheduled for July 18.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
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