Washington, D.C. — A disturbing video has emerged showing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detaining a mother in Worcester, Massachusetts, as her teenage daughter and newborn baby looked on. The footage captures the woman pleading for release while bystanders and advocates shout at officers to stop.
The incident has intensified criticism of ICE’s enforcement tactics, which immigrant rights groups say are increasingly targeting families and parents. Recent cases include:
Three U.S.-born children—one diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer—being deported alongside their mothers.
Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father, remaining detained in El Salvador despite court orders for his return.
Jeanette Vizguerra, a Colorado-based activist and mother, held in a detention facility after being taken from her community.
Advocacy organizations representing immigrant families and mothers have condemned the Worcester arrest, releasing statements from affected parents. Names have been withheld for safety reasons.
Statements from Advocacy Groups
United We Dream (Mother of a 3-year-old):
“Watching this mother’s arrest—hearing her screams—was devastating. Parents should be able to protect their children, not fear being torn from them. ICE’s actions are funded by taxpayer dollars that should support schools, healthcare, and childcare—not family separations. This Mother’s Day, we must demand better.”
MomsRising (Mother of 16-, 14-, and 11-year-old):
“The Worcester arrest, where a mother was seized while holding her baby and her teenage daughter was charged, exemplifies systemic human rights abuses. Immigrants are our neighbors and vital to our communities. We urge the government to treat every individual with dignity, due process, and respect.”
Solidarity Initiative (Mother of 5-year-old and 20-month-old):
“This cruelty reveals how far authorities will go to enforce inhumane policies. As Mother’s Day approaches, we call on allies to stand with immigrant families. The bystanders who intervened in Worcester set an example—we need more collective action to stop these injustices.”
The incident has reignited debates over ICE’s enforcement practices, with advocates demanding policy reforms to prevent further family separations.
Related topics:
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- Immigration Status: Eligibility & Implications” href=”https://www.popularmigrant.com/archives/6206″>C10 Immigration Status: Eligibility & Implications
- DACA Recipients: Who They Are? & What They Face?
