Local News

Daughters of Worcester woman detained by ICE reported missing

A 17-year-old and 13-year-old have been reported missing by local police and a national organization. The older teen is reportedly in Brazil with family.

Sisters Nayara Ferreira De Moura and Karoline Ferreira De Moura of Worcester. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

By Molly Farrar

July 31, 2025

3 minutes to read

Two teenaged children of a Worcester mother detained by federal immigration officials earlier this year have been reported missing, with one traveling back to Brazil according to a national organization and media reports.

Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, of Brazil, is in federal custody after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Eureka Street in Worcester in May. She was reportedly lured outside her home by agents who used her grandchild as “bait” before neighbors surrounded ICE agents.

Two of her daughters were present at her arrest, including an adult daughter and 17-year-old Nayara Ferreira De Moura, who was reported missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Her 13-year-old sister Karoline Ferreira De Moura was also reported missing by the same organization.

Worcester police confirmed “there are two sisters missing out of Worcester.” A 17-year-old left custody of the Department of Children and Families in late May, and a 13-year-old left custody of DCF on July 20, a police spokesperson said. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that Karoline was last seen July 20 as well.

“DCF’s highest priority is the safety of every child,” a DCF spokesperson said. “When a youth in DCF custody is missing from their approved placement, the Department immediately reports it to law enforcement and makes every effort to locate the child.”

Lawyer Andrew Lattrulo told MassLive that Nayara is with an older sister in Brazil, but Karoline is still missing.

Charges dropped against mother, teen daughter

Nayara appears to be the same teen girl who was arrested by Worcester police during her mother’s arrest. Officials requested charges be dropped against the teen “given the totality of the circumstances” after the department released body camera footage of the incident.

A local assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge against Ferreira De Oliveira that was previously cited by ICE was also dropped. She was accused of hitting one of her daughters with a phone charger cable, according to court records. A prosecutor wrote that “the complaining witness in this case does not wish to proceed.”

Before the case was dropped, the woman’s defense attorneys filed a motion to amend the bail conditions asking to be able to be near Nayara, who is the complaining witness. The judge allowed the motion.

“Ferreira de Oliveira is the only parent available to Nayara,” her lawyer Sarah Amorin wrote. “There are many legitimate needs for a custodial parent and 17 year old to have contact with each other, including medical.”

Amorin declined to comment on the missing daughters.

Chaotic ICE arrest in May involved local politician

Worcester neighbors including City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj flocked to the scene of Ferreira de Oliveira’s arrest in May, with people reportedly forming a “human ring” around the mother and children. The 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.

In addition to the teen daughter, another Worcester resident was also arrested, but the most serious charge against them was dropped last week.

Haxhiaj is 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.The arrests prompted thousands to gather during multiple demonstrations across the city, and dozens of Worcester residents attended a meeting criticizing city council and police.

This article has been updated to include a statement from DCF.