Law-enforcement leaders tell legislature they prioritized public safety after unannounced ICE operation; internal reviews under way

Law-enforcement leaders told a joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19 that a unilateral Enforcement and Removal Operations action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 11 sparked a volatile scene in South Burlington and that state and local agencies prioritized public safety while federal agents executed a judicial warrant.

"ICE ERO attempted an enforcement action that resulted in a vehicle chase," South Burlington Police Chief Will Roe said, describing collisions near Dorset Street, close to South Burlington High School and Middle School. Roe said he repeatedly urged ICE to change tactics and ultimately increased local police presence "to keep the peace" and reduce the risk to the public.

"When the crowd did not comply, federal authorities made it clear they possessed the lawful warrant and would execute it with or without our presence," Vermont State Police Director Matthew Birmingham told the committee, adding that state troopers did not assist in breaking down doors, searching the residence, or taking anyone into custody from inside the house.

Commissioner of Public Safety Jennifer Morrison said her department is conducting a statutory internal-affairs review and that hours of body-worn camera footage are being reviewed. "Any internal affairs investigation that may occur related to this incident will take time, but will be thorough and will be based on the facts," Morrison said.

Burlington Interim Chief Sean Burke described the federal plan as "botched," saying it created a high-profile perimeter near a school and drew a crowd. He and other officials said some individuals in the crowd turned violent, reporting assaults on officers and objects thrown at law-enforcement personnel. Three people were cited on disorderly-conduct charges, the Vermont State Police said.

Lawmakers pressed officials on whether departments had opened investigations into policy violations. South Burlington said it had not initiated internal investigations; Burlington reported multiple public reports and a supervisory review; Morrison said her internal affairs office is gathering citizen complaints but had not yet authorized internal affairs investigations specifically tied to use-of-force complaints.

Committee members also asked how state officers should respond if they observe what they believe is excessive force by federal agents. Officials said Vermont's duty-to-intervene policy applies to situations where an officer witnesses unlawful or excessive tactics, but emphasized the legal and practical challenges of intervening with federal actors that operate under different authorities and internal review processes. Morrison said the question of intervention will be part of the departments' after-action reviews.

The hearing did not produce any formal findings; officials repeatedly said their assessments are preliminary and that a comprehensive after-action report will follow. The commissioners and chiefs said they will share lessons from the review with the Vermont Police Academy and professional associations and that the after-action review is expected to be made public.

The committee chair announced a separate public hearing to allow private citizens who attended the March 11 events to testify; the committee plans to schedule that meeting after 5 p.m. so people who work 9-to-5 jobs can attend.