South Burlington council to invite migrant‑rights groups for roundtable after police briefing

The South Burlington City Council voted to invite leaders from Migrant Justice and Indivisible to a small roundtable meeting after the council reviews its police after‑action report on the March 11 ICE operation. Councilor Andrew moved the measure after a lengthy discussion about healing community divisions and how to coordinate responses to future incidents.

“After we have the conversation with the chief, we, as a council, invite folks from Migrant Justice to have a roundtable,” Councilor Andrew said during debate. City Manager Jesse Baker told the council staff will reach out to those organizations and try to schedule a special meeting after the council receives the city's chronology and after‑action report at the April 20 meeting.

Council members framed the step as a cautious, two‑phase approach: first review operational facts with the police chief, then convene a limited, facilitated conversation with community leaders rather than a large public hearing. Supporters said the smaller format might make it safer for immigrants and reduce the risk of a hostile public forum; others urged careful planning and a neutral facilitator.

The motion passed unanimously. The council directed staff to coordinate logistics and to consider having two representatives from each invited organization sit at a table for a back‑and‑forth conversation. The staff timeline posted in the meeting aligned the roundtable scheduling to follow the staff presentation of the after‑action report at the April 20 council meeting.