That Worcester metropolis councilor underneath arrest ought to have learn the memo.
It was Legal professional Common Andrea Campbell’s information warning individuals to not intrude with ICE brokers rounding up unlawful immigrants.
Though Campbell’s “Know Your Rights” information was issued to assist immigrants, legal or in any other case—and never the forgotten victims of unlawful immigrant crime—it may additionally apply to politicians.
Campbell, together with different progressive Democrats like Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, have extra to say about defending the rights of unlawful immigrants, together with the violent criminals amongst them, than they do the rights of the victims.
There is no such thing as a “Know Your Rights” publication for Massachusetts residents.
Campbell, upon the discharge of her pointers, mentioned “the aggressive ICE techniques we’re seeing throughout the Commonwealth don’t defend the general public, and as a substitute unfold concern. In releasing this steerage, I strongly encourage everybody to tell themselves of their rights once they see immigration officers of their communities.”
Certainly one of Campbell’s pointers for onlookers or bystanders to an ICE operation, nonetheless, is the warning that, whereas watching an ICE interplay, they “aren’t allowed to hinder, impede or assault an ICE officer.”
That’s what Worcester Metropolis Councilor Etel Haxhiaj allegedly did when she apparently bodily interfered with the ICE takedown of Ferreira De Oliveira, an alleged unlawful immigrant from Brazil who was accused of hitting her pregnant daughter with a cellphone charger.
Solely in Haxhiaj’s case the police official she allegedly assaulted was a Worcester cop, one in every of a number of who got here to the help of a squad of ICE brokers who have been besieged by some 25 activists protesting the De Oliveira takedown. And the cop was not even carrying a masks.
And when Haxhiaj, who got here to the U.S. from Albania as a baby, was arrested, it got here solely after the Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union demanded an investigation into her conduct, which it known as “deplorable and unacceptable.”
It’ is a marvel that in unlawful immigrant pleasant Massachusetts, which is a haven for deadbeat foreigners, the cop was not arrested as a substitute of De Oliveira or earlier than Haxhiaj. Progressives would have known as that justice.
Maybe Campbell, the state’s “chief regulation enforcement officer,” merely didn’t consider it.
Democrat politicians lining as much as be arrested for obstructing ICE unlawful immigrant actions, even after they’ve gone after murderers, youngster rapists and drug sellers, has change into a new approach of gaining consideration and elevating marketing campaign funds.
It might be unsavory, nevertheless it works.
The subsequent factor you understand Mayor Wu, who’s opposed for reelection, will get arrested for throwing a punch at an ICE agent and even at U.S Legal professional Leah Foley, who has gone after Wu for making outrageous feedback about ICE brokers, calling them “secret police.”
Wu charged that Foley’s “secret police who’re carrying masks” have been “snatching individuals off the streets.”
Whereas the ICE brokers do put on masks to chase away being doxed, Wu by no means complained about masks worn by Antifa, BLM or professional Hamas rioters.
Foley mentioned Wu’s remarks have been “offensive,” which they have been
“There aren’t any secret police. ICE brokers, together with different federal regulation enforcement companions, are making immigration arrests. That’s no secret,” Foley mentioned.
However it doesn’t matter. There’s a marketing campaign to win.
And Wu introduced Foley into it. By going after Foley, and Foley responding, Wu turned the mayoral marketing campaign right into a struggle between her and Foley, who is just not on the poll, whereas sidelining Josh Kraft, who’s.
It might have one thing to do with unlawful immigration. However it has quite a bit to do with re-election as effectively.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas could be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com.
