Wednesday morning I was notified of ICE activity in S. Burlington and as soon as my work at the Statehouse was done I drove there to stand with not only those I represent, but the entire community who stepped in to protect the rights of fellow community members. Early in the morning, ICE was tracking a car that had previously belonged to a Mexican citizen they had an administrative – not criminal – warrant for. The driver was not the person named in the administrative warrant and was terrified to be surrounded by unmarked SUVs. While in the middle of morning rush hour on Dorset St, ICE attempted to box this driver in, resulting in several crashes. This person and their passenger then ran for safety in a nearby home. At no point was the person named on the administrative warrant at that home. For several hours community members surrounded the house to keep ICE from illegally breaking in without a warrant signed by a judge. I arrived just as ICE had finally obtained a judicial warrant and entered after a VT State Police cleared a path so an ICE officer could break down the front door. Three people were dragged out of the house, none of whom were named on the warrant.
What I experienced from then on was a complete abuse of power and a violation of the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. While there were many state and local law enforcement officers working hard to keep people safe, I also witnessed officers who took protesters to unmarked ICE vehicles, aggressively threw people to the ground, and shoved people who were not involved in any sort of obstruction. Community members were injured, and many are now traumatized and afraid. ICE agents used pepper spray and tear gas without provocation, drove into groups of people, and attempted to run over incapacitated protesters. I watched agents rip off community members’ masks and spray irritants directly in their faces just because they could. Their violent, erratic and dangerous behavior did absolutely nothing to make our community safer, and now three people who have committed no crime are detained and senselessly separated from their children.
As a state Senator, I call for the immediate investigation into state and local law enforcement’s role in this operation, and I again call for the passing of S. 208, which will make the use of face masks and lack of identification illegal for law enforcement operating in the state in most instances. As a Vermonter, I am exhausted, I am sad, and I’m concerned for the safety of my community. What happened Wednesday was not only reckless and dangerous, it was a complete waste of resources that are desperately needed elsewhere. I hope this is a wake up call for many who didn’t believe this could happen here. Now it’s time to do better.
Tanya Vyhovsky 