The Burlington City Council on Monday night voted to adopt a policy that will bar local police from collaborating with federal immigration agents.
The council voted 11 to 1 to approve a new Fair and Impartial Policing Policy, with outgoing City Council President Kurt Wright (R-Ward 4) casting the lone no vote.
The sizable crowd erupted in cheers as soon as the vote total was announced.
“Vermont will fight for immigrant rights!” they chanted.
The elation was in stark contrast with the tense atmosphere that dominated most of the hourlong discussion. When a member of the crowd applauded or spoke out of turn, Wright threatened to delay action on the item, which drew a large, passionate crowd at two consecutive city council meetings.
The council president’s attempts to restore decorum were met with boos and jeers. When someone interrupted Councilor Chip Mason (D-Ward 5)’s statement, Wright urged them to listen to differing points of view. “Well fuck you, too!” the person yelled in response.
After the vote, a Channel 17 livestream of the meeting recorded Wright discussing his thoughts on the vote.
“I’m ashamed of this council,” he said. “I really am.”
“Nothing but a bunch of pandering city councilors,” Wright continued. “Just pandered to them. Disgraceful.”
While the former policy said Burlington police won’t “routinely” ask subjects about their immigration status, the new version explicitly bans the practice unless it’s “necessary to the ongoing investigation of a criminal offense for which there is probable cause.”
The policy also says that Queen City cops have no role in enforcing federal immigration law and orders them to not call the feds if someone calls police with a tip about a person’s immigration status. The policy says relying on federal agencies for interpretation services should be a last resort.
Interim Burlington Police Chief Jennifer Morrison urged councilors to send the draft to the police commission for further vetting, as is customary for police policy changes. She warned councilors that the policy is at odds with federal law, which could put the city at risk to lose more than $625,000 in federal grants.
Morrison called the policy “a solution in search of a problem” since Burlington cops “have never acted as deputies for federal immigration officials, and we never will.”
“The precedent of the city council taking a policy written by a special interest group and adopting it, unilaterally, without vetting, is unconscionable,” Morrison continued. “If this is the way the council is going to determine policy for the police department, I fully expect to see policies proposed by other special interest groups.”
Councilor Perri Freeman (P-Central District), who introduced the resolution, and Councilor Jack Hanson (P-East District) both said the threat of losing federal funds wouldn’t influence their votes.
“I cannot imagine a monetary value that could be enough to convince me not to support this policy,” Freeman said, adding, “How do you itemize the value of someone’s life?”
“What’s the point of having money for public safety if you’re not keeping the public safe?” Hanson echoed.
Several Spanish-speakers took the mic to explain why the policy change is needed.
“I’m afraid when I come here because I know that Burlington does not have a policy which protects my rights, which ensures that Burlington police will not call immigration,” Olga Cruz said through interpreter Will Lambek of Migrant Justice. “We want this policy to be strengthened everywhere, and tonight, it’s Burlington’s turn.”
Others challenged the councilors to approve the policy since many of them supported designating Burlington as a sanctuary city in 2016.
“That means absolutely nothing if we don’t have the policies to back that up,” Maria Castine said. “We don’t get to label Burlington a liberal safe haven if we don’t have anything on paper.”
In the end, the majority of councilors heeded the call for action. Councilor Sharon Bushor (I-Ward 1) said that while she heard Morrison’s concerns, she’d been horrified by the national news coverage of the immigration crisis.
“I feel that the times just mandate that I do something more radical than I normally do,” Bushor said. “I do think that there could be some repercussions, but I think … that we need to try to be on the right side of the law and try to make that law change.”
Watch the full video of the meeting below, courtesy of Channel 17:
Editor’s note, February 11, 2020: The commenting feature has been turned off on this story because many of the remarks violated our policy, which states that commenters must be civil, on topic and respectful of each other. Commenters who violate these rules risk having their account on sevendaysvt.com suspended.
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to The Burlington police officers who feel hamstrung by the city Council:
There are MANY job opportunities for law enforcement outside of the people’s republic of Burlington VT.
Vermonters outside of Chittenden County welcome you.
So let’s get this straight:
If an illegal alien breaks into a city councilor’s house in the middle of the night, will that councilor insist that the cops not contact federal immigration authorities as the suspect is led away in handcuffs?
Not on your life – or their’s.
Everyone hates a cop – until they need one.
You reap what you sow Bumbletown.
Shootings, stabbings, perpetual protests and street hustlers, fresh and expanding graffiti and now mobs crashing a feckless city council with the cops running scared.
Gonna be a fun summer in Burlington.
I’ll be enjoying the restaurants, the lake and the shopping in the surrounding towns and villages.
I encourage everyone to do the same.
the mob has many heads
but few brains.
Now that the Knotheads enacted this protocol, next up will be reduced/eliminated Federal funding due to Sanctuary City status.
You’re right, Jimmy, gonna be a long summer.
this policy in no way hinders the ability of the police to do their jobs. it basically just means that can’t use scare tactics and ask every non-white person they encounter about their immigration status (unless it’s a valid question due to the nature of the crime/investigation). so yeah, cool your jets people
Sounds like we have some new recruits for the Patriot Front.
Don’t worry, all you white nationalists. The DMV will still be working hand-in-hand with ICE.
Do cops even need to abide by this? Its contrary to federal law, which supersedes local laws. So I don’t really understand this…police can and should ignore this dangerous policy. It definitely is a solution looking for a problem. Here is the thing: if someone is here legally, there is no issue. If they are here illegally…well yea that is an issue…we can’t just ignore it.
Another step towards the San Fransisco-ing of Burlington. Awesome. Just watch where you step this summer.
“Another step towards the San Fransisco-ing of Burlington. Awesome. Just watch where you step this summer.”
I can assure you, I won’t be stepping in Bumbletown. I’ll spend my time and money elsewhere.
Typical dumbass Burlington. Just make sure the police chief you just hired is on board with quietly enforcing this policy without having to put yourself at odds with federal law, thereby costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands. It’s just foolish. Property taxes (and therefore, rent) are already insane in Burlington without pissing away over 2/3 of a million dollars (annually) to make a ‘statement’.
You wonder why the city can’t afford to fix the damn sewage treatment plant that’s probably pumping millions of gallons of human poo into Lake Champlain right now (it’s raining, after all). Stop lighting money on fire just to codify a policy that’s already in practice.
No more shopping in Bumbletown, too many other places to go.
Did Seven Days ever consider that the person speaking out about her fear of being deported when she enters Burlington might not really want to be named and have her picture published? That seems like a good way to ensure ICE will be knocking on her door pretty soon. No need for the Burlington police to call ICE when Seven Days does it for them.
What’s with “Bumbletown”? Have you folks read any history books? Are there other cities you believe do everything Right?
There’s nothing strange going on – opposing forces and opinions, but it’s all just the way things are handled in reality – not neatly, not concisely, and hard to interpret at times. I can’t blame people for being bitter – I’m bitter about some things too. But what is a Sanctuary City if it doesn’t protect people? I am not alarmed that people ARE trying to make it BE a sanctuary city.
I like police – when they’re behaving. I have personally had my life saved by police. I smile and nod politely whenever I catch their eye.
I also like people in general – when they’re behaving. I like to hear people’s opinions – when they’re not insulting everyone who disagrees.
Read history books and you’ll find we’re not doing so badly – not one of the groups here. Mistakes have been made by every one at times, but…well, just read some history, okay?
Rambling, incoherent, pointless commentary.
I see the usual right wing trash are out in force. You are an embarrassment to your family and community, your state and your nation.
The self-loathing, confused dolts with massive white savior complexes are the usually progressive activists that somehow are convinced that there are groups of people that need to be saved by them. That these oppressed groups of people are either too stupid or uneducated that they cannot defend or speak for themselves. There is a rigidity in these white saviors dogma that is akin to religion, where reason and empirical evidence is of less value than faith in their beliefs. It is amazing that these experts on black and brown people are almost always lily white people usually from lily white priviledged neighborhoods who migrate to lily white Vermont and get radicalized by their lily white professors. There is a whole world out there filled with all types of people who are self-determined and perfectly capable of speaking for themselves. THEY DO NOT NEED YOUR SAVING. They do not want your saving. There is a sickness in Burlington and similar progressive enclaves where people view others as perpetual victims. It comes from inexperience and a lack of understanding, mixed with a disturbing level of white guilt. In the instance of this article our city council pandered to these people because they screamed loud enough, for long enough. And in the meantime there are actual real problems that need attention.
Hey Reality B Free!
Insult Insult Insult Insult Insult Insult Insult Insult. Right back atcha. You could use some help yourself.
Mr. Assumptions;
I wonder what you’re talking about? Guess a comment was too complex for you.
Hi, all:
Comments here are being turned off due to the endless sniping and the utter disregard for our rules, which clearly state that commenters should show each other courtesy. It’s not complicated. You’re on notice. Keep it up, I’m suspending your individual accounts.