Richford, Vermont – Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has ordered an investigation to see if the Vermont State Police followed their bias-free policies following a traffic stop that involved migrant farm workers.
Several protestors spent Tuesday afternoon contacting local officials and protesting outside Border Patrol to get two farm workers released.
Natalia Fajarado, of the of the Vermont Migrant Farmworker Project, held a candle in honor of her friend and coworker Danilo Lopez, outside border patrol in Richford, Vermont Tuesday afternoon.
"Seeing a good friend of mine who I know has committed no crime in handcuffs is heartbreaking," Fajarado said.
Vermont State Police detained Lopez, as well as another migrant farm worker named Antonio during a traffic stop on I-89 near Middlesex. Lopez and Antonio were passengers in the car.
"State police have not followed their own protocol and policy today. It's called the bias free police policy," said Brendan O'Neill, of the Vermont Migrant Farm Workers Solidarity Project.
State police called in Border Patrol when the two passengers didn't show documentation, and that's when protestors showed up. Five of them stood in front of the Border Patrol car, blocking it from leaving the parking lot. Three of those protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct.
"We were forced to stand up and actually attempt to stop the car as they were taking Antonio and Danilo away," O'Neill said.
Just three weeks ago, Danilo Lopez met with Gov. Shumlin to discuss the issue of racial profiling within police departments.
"How ironic is it that because of policies like that he is here today," Fajarado said.
Protestors say police had no right to ask Antonio or Lopez for ID. She says they are hard working farm hands with no criminal history.
"It's not your job or the job of the state police to ask people about their documented status," O'Neill said.
Vermont State Police Director Tom L'Esperance said an internal investigation is underway, as well as reviewing policies relating to incidents involving undocumented workers.
"The Vermont State Police take seriously the necessity of ensuring fair and humane treatment of all people living and working in Vermont, regardless of their race, ethnicity, immigration status, or other personal criteria," said Colonel L'Esperance.
The hope for these people, however, is that traffic doesn't lead to two farm workers being deported.
"They do a lot of hard work they are an important piece of the dairy industry of Vermont," Fajarado said.
Both men were released from Border Patrol and will have to appear in Immigration Court.
Comment Agreement
