Vermont's Senate resolution SR 21 condemns the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) by federal agents during ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. It demands the President immediately suspend the operation, reset immigration enforcement to target only serious criminals, and prioritize constitutional rights. The resolution urges Vermont's congressional delegation to oppose further ICE funding unless reforms include ending militarized tactics, restoring due process, and creating fair pathways to legal status. It also affirms constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and lethal force without legal accountability. The resolution is a non-binding call for federal action, not a law.
H.864 prohibits Vermont public agencies from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities to enforce immigration laws or house individuals facing civil immigration violations, requiring only the Governor (with the Attorney General) to authorize such agreements. It bans the collection or sharing of personally identifying information (including immigration status) with federal agencies for immigration enforcement purposes and invalidates any existing agreements conflicting with these rules. The bill does not prevent compliance with federal laws requiring disclosure of immigration information (like 8 U.S.C. § 1373), but state policies conflicting with such federal requirements are abolished. This directly affects all Vermont state and local government agencies, employees, and contractors.
Vermont's H.850 requires federal immigration authorities (like ICE) to obtain a judicial warrant naming a specific person before entering nonpublic areas of schools, hospitals, public libraries, or childcare centers. It prohibits employees of these sensitive locations from granting access without such a warrant, directing supervisors to review warrants before allowing entry. The bill also restricts the Department of Corrections from assisting federal immigration authorities beyond what federal law permits, effectively terminating existing cooperation agreements. This policy change directly affects Vermont's schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, childcare centers, and the state's corrections system regarding federal immigration interactions.
This bill requires federal immigration authorities to obtain a judicial warrant before entering nonpublic areas of Vermont's schools, healthcare facilities, polling places, public libraries, or childcare centers. It also prohibits Vermont's Department of Corrections from assisting federal immigration enforcement beyond what federal law permits and limits civil arrests in government buildings. The Human Rights Commission must create a model policy for sensitive locations by April 2027, guiding institutions on refusing warrantless access requests. These provisions directly affect federal immigration agents, Vermont schools, healthcare providers, and other sensitive location operators.
S.227 requires all Vermont public and approved independent schools to adopt policies preventing the sharing of student information with federal immigration authorities without a judicial warrant. It prohibits schools from collecting immigration status data, designating such information as "directory information" under federal privacy law, or sharing student records with immigration agencies except as legally required. The bill mandates schools to provide immigration resources to staff and students, designate staff as immigration resource officers, and block federal agents from entering nonpublic school areas (like classrooms or cafeterias) without a warrant naming a specific individual. Schools are also barred from entering agreements that aid federal immigration enforcement, with the superintendent as the sole authority to approve any required federal agreements.
This is a symbolic House resolution (HR 12), not a policy bill. It expresses Vermont's support for Governor Philip B. Scott's statement criticizing federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. The resolution specifically endorses the governor's call for halting "Operation Metro Surge" (the federal deployment of ICE/CBP agents), condemning the fatal shooting of a protester, and demanding adherence to constitutional rights. As a resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it solely conveys legislative support for the governor's position.
This bill clarifies Vermont's authority to enter federal immigration agreements. It states only the Governor (with the Attorney General's consultation) can authorize such agreements under federal law, except when local law enforcement needs to address immediate public safety threats during emergencies. The law prohibits all other state, county, or municipal agencies from entering these agreements without the Governor's specific approval. It directly affects Vermont's executive branch, law enforcement agencies, and any entity seeking to partner with federal immigration authorities. The change ensures centralized oversight of immigration-related agreements while allowing limited emergency exceptions.
Vermont's Senate passed Resolution SR 13 to formally object to the arrest and detention of Mohsen Mahdawi, a White River Junction resident and U.S. green card holder with a decade-long permanent residency. The resolution demands that U.S. immigration authorities afford Mahdawi due process and release him immediately, citing his arrest while en route to a citizenship interview without explanation. It directs Vermont's Senate Secretary to send the resolution to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, ICE leadership, and Vermont's congressional delegation. As a symbolic resolution, it does not change laws but expresses the state's position on this specific case.
This bill creates a specific standby guardianship process for children whose custodial parents face "adverse immigration actions" that make them unavailable to care for the child. It amends Vermont law to define "adverse immigration action" (including detention, deportation proceedings, or visa denials by immigration authorities) and requires petitions for standby guardianship to specify the relevant immigration action. The law allows parents facing such actions to formally appoint a temporary guardian in advance, with streamlined notice procedures if the parent is detained. It directly affects children of immigrant parents subject to immigration enforcement and the appointed guardians who would provide care during the parent's absence. The policy change ensures children have a designated guardian during immigration-related custody disruptions without requiring court approval for the guardianship itself.
H.511 proposes to require schools throughout Vermont to implement a policy regarding federal immigration authorities. This policy would restrict federal immigration authorities from entering nonpublic areas of school facilities. Access to these nonpublic areas would only be permitted if a judicial warrant is presented. The bill directly affects Vermont schools and federal immigration authorities seeking access to them.
