Forty-one Vermont lawmakers are asking Immigration and Customs Enforcement to drop federal deportation proceedings against 10 migrant farmworkers.
The elected officials believe immigration authorities may have targeted the men because of their activism.
All 10 of the men are members of an organization called Migrant Justice, and they’d all advocated for migrant farmworker protections before they were arrested on alleged immigration violations.
"The 10 men are from Mexico and have lived in Vermont for years, primarily working and living on dairy farms," Migrant Justice wrote in a press release. "Some ... were pulled over while driving. Others were detained while shopping for food or wiring money to their families. One was detained after leaving a dentist appointment. All have since been released from ICE custody on bond, yet they remain in deportation proceedings."
Migrant Justice submitted a petition on behalf of the 10 men in June, asking ICE to close their cases.
And this week, Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, Chittenden County Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Winooski Rep. Taylor Small organized an effort to send a letter to ICE from 41 Vermont lawmakers.
“These 10 men were all connected to Migrant Justice, and were really working on improving working conditions and improving human rights here in the state of Vermont," Small said. "And I think that’s the piece that we’re really leaning into.”
The Biden administration issued a memorandum late last year that encourages ICE not to pursue deportation for all immigration violations.
The memorandum also bans ICE from targeting activists.
ICE has not responded to an interview request from Vermont Public.
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