ICE resolution for Vermont Town Meetings

{Town Name} Selectboard

Resolution to Condemn Surveillance and Enforcement Practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

WHEREAS, the Town of {Town Name} is founded upon the principles of the United States Declaration of Independence, which holds that all persons are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; and

WHEREAS, Article 1 of the Vermont Constitution establishes that all persons are born equally free and independent, possessing the natural and inherent rights of enjoying and defending life and liberty, and pursuing and obtaining safety; and

WHEREAS, Vermont currently hosts a national Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at 426 Industrial Avenue in Willistion, which is tasked with monitoring the social media activity of U.S. residents, utilizing Artificial Intelligence to screen vast amounts of data, a practice that threatens the First Amendment rights of Vermonters to engage in political dissent and peaceful protest; and

WHEREAS, the Presidential Memorandum of September 25, 2025, directed federal law enforcement to prioritize the surveillance of "ideological" motivations, specifically targeting dissent regarding migration, border control, and "anti-ICE" activities, thereby creating a climate of state-sponsored intimidation; and

WHEREAS, recent federal enforcement actions have resulted in increased violence, including 16 Americans shot and four fatalities between July 2025 and January 2026, most recent was the tragic death of Renee Good, a mother of three killed during a federal raid in Minneapolis; and

WHEREAS, documented reports as of late 2025 indicate a pattern of administrative retribution against federal employees, media outlets, and local jurisdictions that voice opposition to current immigration and surveillance policies; and

WHEREAS, public sentiment in Vermont and across the United States has shifted significantly, with January 2026 polling by YouGov and Civiqs showing that a majority of residents view current ICE tactics as "too forceful" and express concern that innocent residents are being swept up in aggressive enforcement operations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN OF {TOWN NAME}:

1. That the Town strongly objects to the use of any facility within the State of Vermont for the warrantless surveillance of the online activities, and other monitoring of Vermonters or any U.S. residents by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

2. That the Town calls upon ICE to disclose to the Vermont Attorney General all operational locations within the state, including the number of personnel and the specific nature of activities conducted at each site.

3. That the Town supports the right of the Vermont Attorney General to conduct inspections of these facilities to ensure that no illegal surveillance or violations of the Vermont State Constitution are occurring.

4. That the Town urges the Vermont Attorney General and state legislators to vigorously enforce State statutes and constitutional protections against warrantless digital searches and seizures.

5. That the Town expresses its formal opposition to expanded all ICE activity within Vermont and requests that our elected federal and state officials take all necessary steps to protect the sovereignty of our state and the safety of all its residents.

Dated at {town name}, Vermont this xxth day of January, 2026, effective upon passage.

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