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Assault charge dropped against Worcester mother taken by ICE in high profile arrest
A prosecutor wrote that “the complaining witness in this case does not wish to proceed."
The Worcester mother who was detained by federal immigration agents during a chaotic confrontation is no longer facing the criminal charge that prompted her arrest, court records show.
Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, 40, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant victim in February, according to records in Worcester District Court. The weapon was “a phone charger cable,” police wrote.
The alleged victim was her daughter, according to a police report filed in court.
“The victim told police that Rosane struck her with a phone charger cable, causing visible welts on her arm,” a police officer wrote in February.
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The charge against Ferreira De Oliveira was dropped July 18 after prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss. A prosecutor wrote that “the complaining witness in this case does not wish to proceed.”
“It is our understanding that at this time the defendant is in federal custody,” prosecutors also wrote. “For the listed reasons, the Commonwealth requests that the case is dismissed without prejudice,” meaning legally the state could refile charges.
“Her daughter never wanted to have her mother prosecuted,” said Sarah Amorin, a public defender who represented Ferreira De Oliveira in court.
Ferreira De Oliveira is currently in federal immigration custody at the Strafford County Corrections in Dover, New Hampshire, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s inmate tracker.
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Amorin confirmed that Ferreira De Oliveira remains detained by ICE, adding that “her immigration attorney is working to address her immigration asylum case.”
ICE did not immediately return a request for comment about how this could affect her detention.
Two of Ferreira De Oliveira’s daughters were present when the woman was arrested by ICE on Eureka Street in May. She was reportedly lured outside her home by ICE agents who used her grandchild as “bait.”
Neighbors were on the scene with Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, who reportedly formed a “human ring” around the mother and children. Her daughters tried to stand in front of the ICE vehicle holding their mother to stop the agents from leaving, according to body camera footage.
After her arrest, an ICE spokesperson said Ferreira de Oliveira was a “violent criminal illegal alien” and cited the now-dropped charges in Worcester District Court.
Two people were arrested at the scene, including Ferreira De Oliveira’s 16-year-old daughter. Officials requested charges be dropped against the teen “given the totality of the circumstances.” Another Worcester resident was also arrested, but the most serious charge against them was dropped last week.
Haxhiaj was charged with assault weeks after the confrontation. She pleaded not guilty with a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with a police officer.
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The arrests prompted thousands to gather during multiple demonstrations across the city, and dozens of Worcester residents to attended a meeting criticizing city council and police.
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