Vermont Senate adopts resolution condemning Mohsen Madawi’s detention and calling for due process

The Vermont Senate on April 30 adopted SR13, a resolution “strongly objecting to the manner and circumstances” of the arrest and detention of Mohsen Madawi and urging that he be afforded due process and released if appropriate. The resolution passed on a roll call vote recorded as yeas 24, nays 5.

Senators from Chittenden presented the judiciary committee report to the floor and described Madawi as a long‑time resident and green‑card holder of White River Junction whose scheduled final citizenship interview became, according to the presenters, “a ruse to detain” him. The presenting senator said community members and legal counsel acted quickly to secure court filings that kept Madawi in Vermont jurisdiction and allowed him to pursue due process.

The resolution’s language highlights concerns about how the arrest was conducted, pointing to plainclothes officers with facial coverings, the use of unmarked vehicles and refusals to identify custody locations. The presenting senator said those elements are “the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes,” language intended to underscore the committee’s sharp condemnation.

Senator from Windsor read excerpts from a recent public radio interview with Mohsen Madawi, quoting him: “I am centered. I am at peace. While I know deeply that it is a level of injustice that I am facing, I have faith. I have faith that justice will prevail.” The senator who read that quote urged colleagues to consider the constitutional importance of due process and to speak with a unified voice. Other senators questioned law enforcement procedures and whether the behavior described was typical; presenters noted the committee did not take testimony on standard arrest procedures and framed the resolution around the specific circumstances and image communicated by the incident.

The resolution was placed on a roll call at the request of a senator; the Secretary called the roll and the body recorded 24 yeas and 5 nays. The Senate ordered third reading and adopted SR13. Supporters said the resolution defends due process and affirms Vermont’s commitment to constitutional protections; opponents raised procedural and law enforcement questions during floor debate.

Why it matters: The resolution addresses the intersection of federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdiction, emphasizes due‑process protections, and signals the Legislature’s concern about the methods used in a high‑profile detention in Vermont.