A chaotic immigration arrest in Fitchburg leaves a man hospitalized, a mother detained, and a community divided over ICE tactics under the new administration.
Fitchburg, Massachusetts — November 7, 2025.
A morning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Fitchburg has ignited national outrage after the arrest of an Ecuadorian woman ended in a chaotic scene involving a crowd of bystanders, allegations of excessive force, and a man suffering an apparent seizure while holding a small child.
According to ICE, the detainee—Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, 29—entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and was wanted for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon following a workplace stabbing in August 2025. ICE described her as a “criminal illegal alien” and said she resisted arrest during the traffic stop.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you break the law, you face the consequences. Illegal criminals are not welcome in the United States,” ICE stated, adding that “agitators attempted to interfere” during the arrest.
The operation began around 7:10 a.m. on Kimball Street, where ICE agents pulled over a vehicle occupied by Ojeda-Montoya, a man believed to be her husband, and a 2-year-old child. The stop lasted nearly two hours as roughly 20 onlookers gathered, shouting and recording video of the encounter. ICE requested assistance twice from Fitchburg Police to manage the growing crowd.
Police Chief Steven D. Giannini confirmed that local officers only assisted with crowd control and road closures and did not participate in immigration enforcement. The situation concluded at 8:57 a.m.
Footage shared on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) shows agents restraining the man as he appears to experience a seizure while clutching the child. Witnesses can be heard yelling, “He’s having a seizure! They’re trying to take the baby away!” ICE agents reportedly removed the child for safety, briefly handcuffed the man, and called for medical assistance. Both were later released without charges, while Ojeda-Montoya remains in federal custody.
Local witnesses described the agents as “aggressive and intimidating,” alleging that officers threatened to place the child in state custody if the woman resisted. “I cried every time I saw that baby—he was so confused,” said one witness, Crystal Devoe, speaking to local media outlets.
Immigrant-rights advocates have called for an independent investigation, questioning the use of force and lack of medical transparency regarding the man’s condition. ICE denies any link between their actions and the apparent seizure, attributing it instead to “stress or preexisting conditions.”
The incident unfolds amid a broader surge in ICE operations across cities including Chicago and New York, where similar arrests have sparked protests and demands for oversight. In Fitchburg, a city with a large Latino population, the confrontation has deepened community divisions—some praising strict enforcement, others denouncing what they call “inhumane” tactics.
Police officials said there will be no internal investigation, citing their limited role. The viral video, now with millions of views, has amplified calls for accountability during a politically charged transition period in Washington.
