WORCESTER, Mass. - Local elected leaders and law enforcement are weighing in on the recent charges against Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj stemming from last month’s incident on Eureka Street in which federal ICE agents arrested Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira.

Haxhiaj is facing charges of assault and battery on a police officer as well as interfering with an officer, and in a statement, she said she’s looking forward to addressing the charges in court.

“I am a mother, an immigrant, an elected leader who attempted, along with Worcester residents, to protect a traumatized young person, two mothers and an infant,” Haxhiaj wrote. “I did the humane thing to do in this situation, nothing more, nothing less.”

Meanwhile, State Senator Peter Durant said Haxhiaj shouldn’t receive special treatment in court, adding that nobody is above the law when it comes to assault on a police officer. Durant’s district includes Eureka Street where the incident occurred.

“The general public doesn't get to do that, I don't get to do it, no one here is above the law,” Durant said. “I think it's important that justice be done, and the councilor has her day in court, and you get to make your case."

Thomas Duffy, President of the Worcester Patrolman's Union Local 911, said Haxhiaj's actions as an elected leader set a bad example.

“I think the fact that she's a sitting district councilor, she should have set a better example on the scene,” Duffy said. “Her acting in such a manner incited other people to follow her lead and acted inappropriately towards the police officers and jeopardized their safety, which is something that we can't have.”

Spectrum News 1 requested further comment from Haxhiaj as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office to see if she could potentially face federal charges. As of Thursday afternoon, neither had responded.

Haxhiaj is set to be arriagned on July 23.