Worcester officials are facing “threats of violence” after ICE arrested a criminal illegal alien accused of assaulting her pregnant 16-year-old daughter, according to Mayor Joseph Petty.

Petty decided to close City Hall and instead call for a virtual City Council meeting on Tuesday because of safety concerns that have arisen in the aftermath of last week’s chaotic altercation between activists and law enforcement.

Tension remains high after activists tried to block ICE from arresting Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, who the feds have described as a “violent criminal illegal alien,” last Thursday in a residential neighborhood.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Petty said the Eureka Street showdown and subsequent events “have been deeply disturbing and raised many questions.”

“As a result many people – regardless of viewpoint – are frustrated and angry,” Petty said in the statement. Unfortunately, elected and city officials have received threats of violence. City employees and department heads have also faced threatening calls and emails.”

“It is important to remember that the people that keep City Hall alive are just that – they are people,” the mayor added. “Employees have shared concerns about their safety.”

The mayor’s remarks came after the city alerted the public Monday that “public safety concerns” would prompt City Hall to close to the public at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and a City Council budget subcommittee hearing and regular meeting would both be held virtually via Zoom.

Some activists slammed the city for being vague about what the concerns entailed, calling officials “cowards” for opting for a virtual meeting. They also argue that the feds had no warrant to detain Ferreira De Oliveria and that city police were in the wrong for “assisting” ICE at the scene.

Court records show that city police arrested Ferreira De Oliveira, 40, originally of Brazil, in February after the woman allegedly hit her pregnant juvenile daughter with a phone charger cable, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and MassLive reported on Monday.

The illegal immigrant faces charges of assault and battery on a pregnant victim and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon from the incident. She pleaded not guilty days after the February altercation and was released after she posted a $500 cash bail.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, in which Ferreira De Oliveira did not appear, a judge set a trial date for July 18.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has said that Ferreira De Oliveira entered the country illegally in August 2022 during the “previous administration’s open border policies.”

City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, who has been called out for shielding De Oliveira from law enforcement, posted on social media Monday night that she had “no information other than what was shared w/ the public” about the virtual meetings.

“I understand this is very upsetting & frustrating,” Haxhiaj stated, “but I had no involvement in or knowledge of the decision.”

A protest was still scheduled outside of City Hall Tuesday evening in opposition to what activists said was a “detestable ICE abduction of a Worcester woman” and the “deplorable response of Worcester Police who manhandled and arrested two other women while enabling ICE to break the law.”

“Our purpose is not to disrupt the meeting, but to make our voices heard,” activists wrote on a Facebook page advertising the protest. “Loud and Clear. And to have a good time together in common cause.”

City police arrested Ferreira De Oliveira’s 16-year-old daughter at the scene on charges of reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The daughter has since been released.

Authorities also apprehended School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, 39, with four counts of assault and battery on a police officer, interference with a police officer, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (unknown liquid substance).

Mayor Petty has filed an order with the city clerk requesting the city manager and police chief to “create a written policy on how we interact with ICE as a City.”

The Worcester Police Patrol Officers’ Union is demanding that the city perform an “ethics investigation” into Haxhiaj’s conduct at the scene.

“The conduct of this anti-police activist councilor is deplorable and unacceptable,” the union wrote in a statement last Friday. “Regardless of political opinions or views, city officials should never condone the assault of an officer and flat-out disregard to the point of violent opposition, the authority of police to maintain safety and public order.”