Know Your Rights if ICE Comes to Vermont

This page is information, not legal advice. Vermont has strong state-level protections: no state or local agency has a 287(g) agreement with ICE, a 2017 law requires governor approval before any state or local agency can enter DHS enforcement agreements, and Governor Scott signed S.209 in June 2026 prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations statewide. H.849, creating a civil cause of action for federal constitutional violations, became law without the governor's signature. Vermont's Department of Corrections has a separate detention agreement with CBP/Border Patrol - approximately 900 immigrants were held in Vermont facilities in 2025. ICE has conducted enforcement in Vermont despite these protections, including the Richford dairy farm raid, the arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi at a citizenship interview, and the detention of Rümeysa Öztürk. Verify current conditions with Migrant Justice, Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP), or a licensed immigration attorney.

Vermont is one of the most protective states in the country for immigrant communities. No state or local law enforcement agency in Vermont has a 287(g) agreement with ICE, and a 2017 state law requires that the governor must approve - after consulting with the attorney general - any such agreement before it can take effect. Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, has publicly criticized masked federal agents and stated that the power of the executive branch 'is not infinite.' In June 2026, he signed S.209, prohibiting civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations statewide. H.849, creating a civil cause of action in state court for federal constitutional violations, became law without his signature.

These protections are real and meaningful. Vermont has also experienced significant ICE enforcement activity, including the Richford 8 - eight migrant dairy workers arrested at Pleasant Valley Farms in Berkshire in early 2025 - the arrest of Palestinian Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi during his citizenship interview at a USCIS office in Colchester, and the detention of Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, whose case involved protracted court battles over her transfer to and from Vermont custody. In 2025, approximately 900 immigrants were held in Vermont detention facilities - mostly in the state's prisons under a renewed agreement between the Vermont Department of Corrections and CBP/Border Patrol.

Vermont's immigrant communities are concentrated in the dairy farming industry across the Northeast Kingdom and other agricultural regions, in Burlington and the Chittenden County area, and among smaller refugee and asylum seeker populations in cities like Winooski, Burlington, and Rutland. ICE and CBP are both active in Vermont, with CBP having additional authority in the border zone near Canada.

Part 1: Your rights under federal law - everywhere, including Vermont

These rights come from the U.S. Constitution. They apply in Vermont regardless of immigration status, citizenship, or how you entered the country.

At your front door

The Fourth Amendment protects your home from government entry without your consent or a judicial warrant. A judicial warrant is signed by a federal judge, based on probable cause, and authorizes entry to a specific address. An administrative warrant - ICE Form I-200 or I-205 - is signed by an immigration officer, not a judge, and does not authorize entry to your home without your consent. Ask through the door which type of warrant is being presented. If it is administrative, you are not required to open the door.

In sensitive locations - S.209 signed June 16, 2026

Governor Scott signed S.209 on June 16, 2026, prohibiting civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations across Vermont. This law creates state-level protection for people in sensitive locations from civil immigration arrest. Sensitive locations typically include schools, churches, hospitals, and other community spaces that Vermont's law specifies. Verify the specific locations covered with the ACLU of Vermont or Migrant Justice, as the scope of the law matters for families making decisions about where it is safer to be.

During a traffic stop or street encounter

You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, your immigration history, or your status. You can say you are exercising your right to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer. You can ask whether you are free to go. If the officer says yes, you may calmly leave.

Vermont local law enforcement agencies have not signed 287(g) agreements. Vermont State Police have not entered enforcement agreements with ICE or CBP. This means that a routine traffic stop by Vermont State Police or local police does not carry the same immigration enforcement potential as in states with Task Force Model agreements. However, ICE and CBP agents can be present anywhere in Vermont and can conduct independent enforcement operations.

Near the Canadian border - CBP authority

Vermont shares a long border with Canada. CBP has authority within 100 miles of any U.S. border, covering most of Vermont. CBP agents can conduct stops and brief questioning in the border zone under broader authority than interior ICE enforcement. The Richford 8 - dairy workers arrested in Berkshire - were arrested by CBP agents, not ICE, reflecting the active presence of border enforcement specifically in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and northern agricultural communities. If you live or work in northern Vermont, knowing that CBP (not just ICE) is an active enforcement presence matters.

At citizenship or immigration appointments

Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested at his USCIS citizenship interview in Colchester on April 14, 2025 by masked agents who refused to identify themselves. State Senator Becca White, who was with him, stated that when she identified herself as a state senator and asked who the agents were, she was told they did not need to identify themselves. The arrest at a citizenship interview - typically considered one of the most protected contexts for immigration encounters - documents that even lawful permanent residents with scheduled government appointments face arrest risk in Vermont.

Do not sign anything without a lawyer

Documents presented during an ICE arrest may include voluntary departure agreements or stipulated removal orders that waive your right to a hearing before an immigration judge. Do not sign anything without speaking to an attorney first.

Part 2: Vermont's protections - what they cover

2017 law - gubernatorial approval required for enforcement agreements

Vermont's 2017 law requires that before any state or local agency can enter into a 287(g) agreement or similar DHS enforcement agreement, the governor must approve it after consulting with the attorney general. As of the date of this page's research, no state or local agency had asked to partner with federal authorities on civil immigration enforcement. This is the legal foundation for Vermont's no-287(g) status.

S.209 - civil arrest in sensitive locations prohibited - signed June 16, 2026

Governor Scott signed S.209 into law on June 16, 2026. The law prohibits civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations in Vermont. This builds on existing federal guidance and codifies stronger state-level protection for community spaces. Verify the specific sensitive locations covered with current sources.

H.849 - civil cause of action for federal constitutional violations

H.849, an act relating to a civil action for damages for deprivation of federal constitutional rights by any government official, became law without Governor Scott's signature. This means Vermont residents can bring state court claims against government officials - potentially including federal agents - who violate their federal constitutional rights. This mirrors the approach New York took with its PPGG budget law and creates a legal accountability mechanism at the state level.

Vermont Attorney General - know your rights guidance

Vermont's Attorney General has published guidance on know-your-rights for immigration encounters, explaining that the Tenth Amendment does not allow the federal government to force Vermont to cooperate in immigration enforcement, that Vermont has chosen to focus its resources on local public safety, and that no state or local agency has a DHS enforcement agreement. The AG's office is a resource for know-your-rights information.

Part 3: Vermont's detention agreement - the DOC-CBP contract

Vermont's Department of Corrections has a separate detention agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol - not with ICE - that allows the state's prisons to be used for federal immigration detention. Governor Scott renewed this agreement in September 2025 with an increasing per-day rate: $185 per person per day from September 2025 to July 2026, rising over time. Unlike many such agreements nationally, Vermont's contract pays substantially more than the $70-$110 per day ICE typically pays elsewhere.

In 2025, approximately 900 immigrants were held in Vermont facilities under this agreement. Some were detained by Vermont-based federal enforcement; others were brought from out of state. Most detainees stayed only a few days before being transferred. Vermont Legal Aid has noted that roughly 1,000 Vermonters faced deportation proceedings in 2025, and Migrant Justice received 110 calls for detention help - up from just 10 the year before.

The ACLU of Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid have both said that ending the detention agreement could do more harm than good for detainees, since Vermont's facilities are considered relatively accessible compared to out-of-state alternatives. This is a complicated tradeoff that immigrant advocates continue to debate.

Part 4: High-profile Vermont cases

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man who was a lawful permanent resident of the United States and a Columbia University student, was arrested at his USCIS citizenship interview in Colchester, Vermont on April 14, 2025 by masked agents who would not identify themselves. Vermont lawmakers passed resolutions condemning the circumstances and advocating for his release. A federal judge in Vermont ordered his release. His case became a focal point for advocacy about ICE enforcement against lawful permanent residents based on political speech.

The Richford 8 - eight migrant dairy workers - were arrested by CBP at Pleasant Valley Farms in Berkshire in early 2025. Three were deported to Mexico while the case was still active. This enforcement action against agricultural workers in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom created significant fear among Vermont's dairy farming immigrant communities.

Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student, was detained by ICE despite having legal student visa status. Federal courts repeatedly ordered her transferred back to Vermont's jurisdiction for hearings on whether her rights had been violated. Her case illustrated that having legal visa status does not prevent ICE arrest in the current enforcement climate.

Part 5: What to do right now, before anything happens

Know your A-number and make sure trusted family members have it written down. Vermont detainees may be held in Vermont's state prisons under the DOC-CBP agreement, or transferred to out-of-state ICE facilities. The Vermont detention agreement may mean short stays in-state before transfer.

Know that Vermont local police and state police have not signed 287(g) agreements. A routine traffic stop by Vermont State Police or local police does not carry the same immigration enforcement risk as in states with Task Force agreements. However, ICE and CBP agents operate independently throughout Vermont and can be anywhere.

If you live or work in northern Vermont near the Canadian border, CBP has broader stop-and-question authority in the 100-mile border zone that covers most of the state. CBP agents were responsible for the Richford dairy farm arrests - not ICE. Understanding which agency you're encountering matters.

Know that citizenship and immigration appointments at USCIS offices are not protected from enforcement. Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested at a citizenship interview. If you have an upcoming USCIS appointment, consult with an immigration attorney first about the current risk environment.

Connect with Migrant Justice and VAAP before a crisis. These are Vermont's primary frontline organizations for dairy worker communities and asylum seekers respectively.

Part 6: Legal help and resources in Vermont

Migrant Justice is Vermont's primary immigrant farmworker advocacy organization, supporting dairy workers in Vermont's agricultural communities. Their hotline and rapid response capacity was central to the response to the Richford 8 arrests. Their website is migrantjustice.net.

Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) provides legal representation to asylum seekers in Vermont. They are a key resource for asylum seekers and those with pending immigration cases. Their website is vaapvt.org.

Vermont Legal Aid provides civil legal services to low-income Vermonters and has been engaged on immigration detention defense. They led emergency state-funded detention defense teams established in 2025. Their website is vtlegalaid.org.

ACLU of Vermont monitors enforcement developments and publishes know-your-rights resources. Their website is acluvt.org.

The Vermont Attorney General's office published know-your-rights guidance for immigration encounters at ago.vermont.gov.

For immigration court case information, call the EOIR automated line at 1-800-898-7180. To locate someone in ICE custody, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. Vermont detainees may be held at Vermont state correctional facilities under the DOC-CBP agreement, or transferred to out-of-state facilities. Call the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 if your person does not appear in the locator.

Immigration Advocates Network lists Vermont legal providers at immigrationadvocates.org.

Vermont has some of the strongest state-level immigration enforcement protections in the country - no 287(g) agreements, a law requiring gubernatorial approval before any can be signed, a new sensitive locations civil arrest prohibition, and a state civil rights cause of action. Vermont has also seen significant ICE and CBP enforcement activity in 2025, with approximately 900 people detained in state facilities, dairy farmworkers arrested in the Northeast Kingdom, and a lawful permanent resident arrested at his own citizenship interview. Your federal constitutional rights apply in full: an administrative warrant does not authorize entry to your home, your right to remain silent is unchanged, and you cannot be compelled to sign anything without a lawyer. Vermont's protections limit what local police do, not what federal agents do independently. Connecting with Migrant Justice and VAAP before a crisis, and consulting an attorney before USCIS appointments, are the practical foundations for protecting your family in Vermont.

This page reflects conditions as of mid-2026. S.209 (sensitive locations civil arrest prohibition) was signed June 16, 2026. H.849 (civil action for constitutional violations) became law without the governor's signature in 2026. The Vermont DOC-CBP detention agreement was renewed September 2025 with no expiration date. Approximately 900 immigrants were held in Vermont facilities in 2025. Verify current conditions with Migrant Justice, VAAP, or the ACLU of Vermont.