Advocates tell Senate Judiciary they documented a surge in immigration enforcement in Vermont

Will Lambach, identified in the transcript as representing an advocacy organization, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 14 that his group has documented a marked increase in interior immigration enforcement in Vermont and urged state action to protect residents.

“We’ve seen more than a tenfold increase in immigration‑enforcement activity,” Lambach said, describing recent workplace raids, traffic stops, stakeouts and home detentions. He said many people detained in Vermont have been transferred to out‑of‑state facilities, a practice that separates families and creates difficulty for relatives trying to locate and assist detainees.

Lambach said most people detained in recent enforcement actions do not have criminal convictions and that the increased enforcement is taking a heavy toll on community well‑being and livelihoods. He noted the state has tools that can be used to protect residents, and pointed to past local legal changes that curbed ICE presence at courthouses as an example of practical effect when legislation is enacted and followed.

Committee members asked whether advocates are engaging the federal delegation; an advocacy director recorded in the transcript as “Public Schilling, advocacy director ACI” said advocates are in contact with federal representatives but do not expect comprehensive federal reform this year, and therefore see a role for state action. Senators also asked witnesses whether they have observed masked or unstamped officers in Vermont; witnesses said yes and described instances of plain‑clothes officers and unmarked vehicles in workplace and roadside operations.

The committee thanked witnesses and paused deliberations for further testimony and drafting work; no formal committee votes on the matters discussed were taken during this session.