Vermont Senate Democrats Stand Against ICE Overreach, Call for Mohsen Mahdawi’s Release and Stronger Immigrant Protections

Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Senate Democrats held a press conference to condemn the unlawful detention of Vermont resident Mohsen Mahdawi by federal immigration authorities. Vermont Senate Democrats urged Governor Scott to take immediate action to disentangle Vermont from a broader national pattern of federal overreach and due process violations. Speakers, including Senators Rebecca White (Windsor), Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden Southeast), and Nader Hashim (Windham), called for Mr. Mahdawi's immediate release, and emphasized Vermont's responsibility to resist enabling unconstitutional practices, calling on Governor Scott to review the current memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Vermont and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a room in the Vermont State House packed with over a hundred leaders from faith and activist communities, Senator Rebecca White led a pledge of nonviolence, an oath urging state and local officials to defend individual liberty and uphold due process for all residents, regardless of immigration status, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Senator Nader Hashim spotlighted ongoing legislative efforts – including S.44, which would require state approval for ICE contracts with municipal law enforcement; S.148, which would place clear limits on how and when Vermont law enforcement may share residents' personal information with federal authorities; and H.98, which expands standby guardianship protections for separated immigrant families. Vermont Senate Democrats urge Governor Scott to partner with them to pass this legislation to limit state cooperation with ICE.

Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale said, "We are not here to support the rule of ICE. We are not here to support the rule of Trump. We are here to support the rule of law. We are urging Governor Scott to step up and do more to protect Vermont's immigrants."

Senator Rebecca White said, "If you live in the Upper Valley, or you have met Mohsen, you know how profoundly unjust this situation has been. Mohsen is a green card holder, a peacemaker, and a bridgebuilder. He has built a community in the Upper Valley for almost ten years. I've been in touch with an outpouring of community members who have had heartfelt experiences and conversations of peace and justice with Mohsen. It is unfathomable that ICE designed a ruse – the promise of citizenship – to detain him unlawfully, and that I witnessed this unlawful detention firsthand."

Senate Judiciary Chair Nader Hashim underscored his committee's effort to renegotiate the state's relationship with ICE: "In my committee, we are actively discussing what guidelines we can impose on state facilities when used by the federal government. It is crucial to distinguish between detainees who are already in Vermont and those who are transported here after being arrested in other districts. The latter are taken away from their families, friends, and legal support, disrupting their due process. I believe Vermont should not be complicit in supporting ICE's operations by allowing our state facilities to hold detainees brought here from other regions, and we are carefully exploring how to address this issue."

Ethan Hinch, Outreach Representative for U.S. Senator Sanders, read a statement on behalf of Senator Sanders. Senator Sanders said, "Let's call these illegal arrests what they are: forced disappearances. The Trump Administration is targeting students based solely on their political opinions – peaceful speech clearly protected by the First Amendment. These illegal arrests are intended to spread fear and silence dissent. This is authoritarianism, plain and simple, and we must stand up to it. We cannot allow Trump and his cronies to turn the United States of America into a police state in which people can be disappeared for their political beliefs."

Big Hartman, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, said, "While civil and constitutional rights are at risk due to federal overreach and systemic injustices seem too large to address directly, many legislators are surely wondering what more they can do. Thankfully, the immigrant community has brought forward several policy proposals that would make a positive impact – specifically, legislation that would legally protect immigration status and citizenship against discrimination on housing and public accommodation applications."

Falko Schilling, Advocacy Director at the ACLU of Vermont, said, "I'm proud that Vermont has, in many ways, led the way in protecting immigrant communities – by prohibiting ICE arrests at courthouses, limiting collaboration between state agencies and ICE, and adopting a fair and impartial policing policy that ensures our resources serve Vermont, not a national deportation agenda. We must continue this work by closely examining our state systems to ensure they are not enabling the Trump administration's unlawful attacks on immigrants. Just as importantly, we need to provide concrete support for individuals and families caught in the web of immigration enforcement."

Mohsen Mahdawi has a status conference on Wednesday, April 23, at 9:00 a.m. in the U.S. Federal Courthouse at 11 Elmwood Ave, Burlington, VT. Peaceful demonstrations in defense of due process and civil liberties are expected. If you have inquiries about Mr. Mahdawi's legal case, please contact booking@imeu.org and/or rania@batrice.associates.

For other inquiries on immigration-related concerns, please contact Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (info@vaapvt.org) and/or Vermont Legal Service Coldline (800-889-2047).

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Contact:

Erin Stoetzner
Director of Vermont Senate Democrats
estoetzner@vtdemocrats.org