Montpelier, VT — As Congress considers whether to appropriate additional funds for ICE operations, the ACLU of Vermont is calling on Vermont’s Congressional delegation to reject and oppose additional funding for ICE, an agency with a well-established record of abuse and impunity that is now terrorizing American communities in Minneapolis and other cities. The ACLU joins more than 500 human rights organizations calling on Congress to rein in ICE and reject increased funding.
Vermont Representative Becca Balint has stated she is a “hell no” on additional funding for ICE. Meanwhile, with an appropriations deadline approaching at the end of the month, Politico is reporting that some Congressional Democrats are “feverishly working to fund the agency” while others are hoping to place legal constraints on an agency that consistently ignores legal constraints.
Vermont Senators Sanders and Welch have denounced recent ICE tactics but have not stated their positions on the question of ICE funding, and Vermont’s senators have a mixed record on funding ICE and Border Patrol abuse.
ACLU of Vermont Executive Director James Lyall made the following statement: “We thank Representative Balint for opposing additional funding for ICE, and we urge Vermont’s full Congressional delegation to follow suit.
“For Vermonters, this is not a difficult decision. ICE and Border Patrol have a shocking record of abuse and impunity that should have been addressed a long time ago. At this point, however, these agencies operate with total disregard for American laws and values, are terrorizing entire communities, and with $170 billion in funding, are poised to go to even greater extremes of violence and lawlessness.
“Our elected leaders need to stop acting as if this is business as usual – it’s not. They need to stop acting as if these agencies can be reformed – they can’t. The American people see that, the people of Vermont see it, and it’s time for our leaders to do something about it.”
The upcoming vote on DHS appropriations follows the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, where ICE is engaged in an unlawful, military-style occupation, with Donald Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem suggesting ICE agents can require proof of citizenship of anyone they encounter.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit this week to stop warrantless arrests and racial profiling of Minnesota residents.
The ACLU of Vermont is encouraging concerned Vermont voters to contact Senator Welch's office at 202-224-4242 and Senator Sanders' office at 202-224-5141.
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