South Burlington releases 60+ hours of bodycam footage and outlines after-action steps following March 11 ICE operation

South Burlington officials on April 20 presented a staff after-action packet and more than 60 hours of body-worn camera footage documenting the March 11 ICE/ERO enforcement action and its aftermath. City Manager Jesse Baker told the council the materials were posted to improve public understanding and to surface changes staff recommends to incident-command, emergency operation center technology and policies.

"Again, I wanna reiterate that we posted more than 60 hours of body worn camera video," Baker said, urging residents to review linked materials and to use the meeting's question period to surface community questions. Police Chief Bill Breaux, who led on-scene command decisions that day, said the department's review found no incidents in South Burlington footage of officers using excessive force and described each operational choice as driven by real-time safety concerns.

"I remain extremely proud of the level of professionalism displayed by each and every member of the South Burlington Police Department in what was truly a no win situation," Breaux said, adding that decisions were made through a unified command that included Vermont State Police and Burlington Police representatives. Breaux and Baker both stressed that local officers had limited authority to stop federal enforcement actions by ICE/ERO but that the review identified gaps in communication, equipment and training to address.

Councilors and members of the public pressed staff on specific operational questions: when officers learned detainees were not named on the warrant, why the roadway was reopened while an ICE vehicle remained surrounded, and whether dispersal orders were properly conveyed. Breaux explained federal agents can make on-scene arrests when they claim probable cause and that prosecutors and courts determine sufficiency after the fact. On reopening the street he said a breakdown in information from the ICE supervisor led command to believe federal vehicles had left and to temporarily withdraw local officers, then to re-enter when it became clear an ICE vehicle remained on scene and was later moved with SWAT tactics.

Public commenters at the meeting sharply contradicted the staff conclusions. Ray, a South Burlington resident, said federal agents entered the wrong house and that multiple people were taken who were not the intended target. "The operation still went forward, and people who were not intent the intended target were still taken," he said, and urged the council not to let staff explanations substitute for accountability. Other speakers — including volunteers who said they have reviewed hundreds of hours of footage — alleged instances of collaboration and failures to intervene that they say violate the city's fair and impartial policing policy.

Councilors agreed to pursue facilitated conversations outside a warned council meeting: a small delegation of council members, the city manager and the police chief will reach out to community organizations (including Migrant Justice) and a neutral facilitator potentially from restorative-justice practice to begin dialogue and seek a more inclusive path forward. City staff said they will return with recommended next steps and any resource needs identified by the after-action review.