WORCESTER — City Hall has fired a shot across Washington’s bow. In a late-night vote, the Worcester City Council passed a resolution barring local police from assisting federal immigration agents, declaring the city wants nothing to do with ICE’s dragnet.

The move comes after the arrest of Rosane Ferreira-de Oliveira, a Brazilian mother of three whose detention by immigration authorities in May sparked outrage among residents and immigrant advocates. Her case became a rallying cry, with critics accusing ICE of tearing families apart and demanding Worcester take a stand. Ferreira-de Oliveira has since been granted asylum, but the uproar left its mark.

Councilors say the resolution ensures Worcester police won’t be deputized into immigration enforcement or enter into holding agreements with ICE. Supporters call it a show of solidarity with the city’s large immigrant population. But the measure is mostly symbolic — federal law still reigns supreme, and ICE can operate here with or without City Hall’s blessing.

For now, Worcester’s leaders have planted their flag: the city won’t help ICE, even as the Trump administration ramps up arrests in Massachusetts under new federal operations. Critics warn the vote could jeopardize funding and invite legal battles. Backers shrug off the threats, insisting Worcester is safer when immigrants aren’t afraid of their own police.