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Lawmakers hear testimony alleging Vermont police aided ICE in March 11 Dorset Street raid
Summary
A joint House and Senate Judiciary public hearing drew dozens of witnesses who alleged that Vermont State Police and local departments assisted federal ICE agents on March 11, using force that harmed community protectors and led to the detention of three people not named on the warrant.
A joint public hearing of the House and Senate Judiciary committees heard more than an hour of testimony from residents, community investigators and legal advocates who said Vermont State Police and local departments cooperated with federal immigration agents during the March 11 enforcement action on Dorset Street in South Burlington.
Witnesses described a day that began peacefully, then escalated when state tactical units arrived in riot gear and created a corridor that allowed ICE agents to enter a home and remove three people who, several witnesses and later court filings say, were not listed on the warrant. Christian Herz, one of those detained, told lawmakers: “There was no authority that we could call on for help…we could only count on the support of our neighbors.”
The hearing focused on two related claims repeated across testimony: that local and state officers used force against peaceful ‘protectors’ and that police actions facilitated ICE’s operation. Nicolo Alexandra Mendelia, who said she was choked and put into a patrol vehicle, called for release of all body-camera footage: “If they ever want us to trust in their support, I ask for the public release of the body camera footage of every single officer who was present.”
Why it matters: multiple witnesses argued the events violated Vermont’s fair-and-impartial-policing policy, which restricts police cooperation with civil immigration enforcement. Will Lambbeck, who reviewed policy language for Migrant Justice, told the committee the FIP explicitly discourages police from facilitating civil immigration detentions and urged the legislature to use subpoena power and empower the Vermont Human Rights Commission to conduct a public investigation.
Details and evidence offered: community groups said they have logged thousands of videos and interviewed victims of alleged police violence; Brian Clifford said community investigators had gathered over 1,000 videos and asked the committees to open a formal probe. Big Hartman of the Vermont Human Rights Commission said HRC has authority to investigate discrimination but lacks statutory authority to publicly disclose an investigative report; he asked the committees to consider granting disclosure powers to enable transparent public accountability.
Legal context: Jill Martin Diaz, an immigration attorney, told the committee federal court findings in the cases tied to the March 11 detentions determined that the arrests were illegal; she urged lawmakers to fund legal services and ensure legal remedies are available if new protections are enacted.
Responses and next steps: witnesses repeatedly requested release of body-camera footage, formal investigations (including subpoena authority), and the strengthening or statutory enactment of the fair-and-impartial-policing policy (bills referenced included H849, S209, S227 and related proposals). Committee chairs acknowledged testimony and technical issues with closed captioning; staff said a full transcript and related materials would be posted to the committee stream within 72 hours.
What the hearing did not resolve: committee members did not question witnesses during the hearing; no votes or formal committee actions were taken at the session. Several witnesses urged immediate legislative action; others requested criminal or administrative accountability for specific officers and ICE agents involved, which would require follow-up investigations or litigation.
