WCVB Channel 5 Boston / YouTube screenshot
A mother and her teenage daughter were detained by ICE and Worcester police in Massachusetts, sparking outrage after bystanders filmed officers slamming the girl’s face into the ground as a crowd pleaded for them to stop.
On Thursday, the family, Brazilian immigrants including a 2-month-old baby, had just exited their home in Worcester when ICE agents, reportedly lying in wait, intercepted them, as reported by NBC Boston.
Video of the arrest, captured by Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, shows the moment escalating as local police arrived in response to emergency calls reporting a crowd forming around federal agents.
Tensions rose when a 16-year-old girl allegedly attempted to escape officers and was quickly tackled, her face driven into the pavement as she screamed. Bystanders shouted at police and ICE agents, demanding they stop and questioning why local authorities were cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
The teen’s mother and another relative were also taken into custody. One woman was arrested for allegedly throwing liquid at officers, while the teen was charged with resisting arrest and child endangerment after reportedly kicking a police vehicle.
Worcester police defended their involvement, claiming officers were trying to manage an “unruly” scene and protect public safety. But activists and neighbors condemned the response as unnecessarily aggressive, with community leaders demanding answers from both ICE and local officials.
ICE declined to comment on the operation, citing officer safety and ongoing enforcement.
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