FITCHBURG — On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at approximately 7:10 a.m., Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents called the Fitchburg Police Department requesting assistance during a traffic stop on Kimball Street that turned into an attempted apprehension.
According to a statement from Fitchburg Police Chief Steven D. Giannini, the Fitchburg Police Department dispatched a patrol officer and patrol supervisor to the scene “to determine the nature of the request.”
“The role of the Fitchburg Police Department in this type of situation is to keep the peace,” Chief Giannini added. “Keeping the peace includes making sure both the public as a whole as well as federal law enforcement agents are safe. The Fitchburg Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws, nor do we interfere with the lawful actions of other law enforcement agencies.”
At approximately 8:03 a.m., ICE made a second call for assistance to the Fitchburg Police Department, this time reporting that a crowd was gathering and the agents “were in danger.” Fitchburg police dispatched one patrol officer, one patrol supervisor, and one captain to the scene, to determine the nature of the second request.
“Units on scene confirmed that a crowd was gathering and that the situation was hostile,” Chief Giannini said.
At this time, Chief Giannini said more units were dispatched to the scene in order to keep the peace.
“A portion of Kimball Street was closed to motor vehicle traffic for a short period of time in an effort to keep all involved parties safe,” Chief Giannini said.
At approximately 8:57 a.m., Chief Giannini said the ICE agents “completed their apprehension” by taking an adult female into custody.
“There was a small child in the vehicle along with the female and the adult male,” Chief Giannini said. “The child and the adult male were allowed to leave the scene. At that point, all Fitchburg police officers cleared the scene without needing to take any enforcement actions.”
Chief Giannini directed all further inquiries about the incident to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.