Vermont HR 12: House resolution expressing support for the principles behind the statement of Governor Philip B. Scott regarding the federal surge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in the State of Minnesota

Bill Text

VTLEG#386985 v.1
State of Vermont
House of Representatives
Montpelier, Vermont
House Resolution
H.R. 12
Offered by Representatives Donahue of Northfield, Sibilia of Dover,
Arsenault of Williston, Austin of Colchester, Bartholomew of Hartland,
Bartley of Fairfax, Berbeco of Winooski, Birong of Vergennes, Bishop of
Colchester, Black of Essex, Bluemle of Burlington, Boyden of Cambridge,
Brady of Williston, Branagan of Georgia, Brown of Richmond, Burke of
Brattleboro, Burkhardt of South Burlington, Burtt of Cabot, Campbell of St.
Johnsbury, Carris Duncan of Whitingham, Casey of Montpelier, Cina of
Burlington, Conlon of Cornwall, Cooper of Pownal, Critchlow of Colchester,
Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Essex Junction, Duke of Burlington, Eastes of
Guilford, Emmons of Springfield, Feltus of Lyndon, Galfetti of Barre Town,
Garofano of Essex, Goldman of Rockingham, Graning of Jericho, Harple of
Glover, Headrick of Burlington, Hooper of Randolph, Hooper of Burlington,
Houghton of EssexJunction, Howard of Rutland City, Hoyt of Hartford, James
of Manchester, Kleppner of Burlington, Kornheiser of Brattleboro, Krasnow of
South Burlington, Krowinski of Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne, LaLonde of
South Burlington, Lipsky of Stowe, Logan of Burlington, Long of Newfane,
Lueders of Lincoln, Luneau of St. Albans City, Maguire of Rutland City,
Marcotte of Coventry, Masland of Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, McFaun
of Barre Town, Morrow of Weston, Nigro of Bennington, Nugent of South
Burlington, Olson of Starksboro, Pouech of Hinesburg, Priestley of Bradford,
Rachelson of Burlington, Scheu of Middlebury, Squirrell of Underhill, Stone
of Burlington, Sweeney of Shelburne, Tomlinson of Winooski, Torre of
Moretown, Waszazak of Barre City, Waters Evans of Charlotte, Wood of
Waterbury, and Yacovone of Morristown
House resolution expressing support for the principles behind the statement
of Governor Philip B. Scott regarding the federal surge of U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) agents in the State of Minnesota
Whereas, on January 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
deployed approximately 3,000 federal agents, drawn from both ICE and CBP,
to the metropolitan Twin Cities area in Minnesota, and
Whereas, on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, CBP agents
fatally shot a U.S. citizen at the site of an anti-ICE demonstration, the second
such shooting of a protester against ICE operations in the same month, and
Whereas, these and multiple other events pertaining to the methods of
enforcing immigration law have triggered large protests both in and out of the
State of Minnesota, as well as in Vermont, and

VTLEG#386985 v.1
Whereas, two of our fundamental constitutional rights are “the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances” and that “no person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law,” and
Whereas, in response to the events in Minnesota, on January 25, 2026,
Governor Philip B. Scott issued the following statement:
“Enough ... it’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal
agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their
government.
“At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of
coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices,
training, and leadership.
“At worst, it’s a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American
citizens that’s resulting in the murder of Americans. Again, enough is enough.
“The President should pause these operations, de-escalate the situation, and
reset the federal government's focus on truly criminal illegal immigrants. In
the absence of Presidential action, Congress and the Courts must step up to
restore constitutionality,” and
Whereas, this legislative body desires to speak in unity with the Governor
on this urgent topic and to address this crisis in our nation, now therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
That this legislative body expresses its support for the principles behind the
statement of Governor Philip B. Scott regarding the immigration enforcement
actions that ICE and CBP, known as Operation Metro Surge, are currently
conducting in the State of Minnesota, and be it further
Resolved: That this legislative body stands firm in its defense of the rights
of all under the U.S. Constitution and in its commitment to standards that
coordinate acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training,
and leadership, and be it further
Resolved: That the Clerk of the House be directed to send a copy of this
resolution to Governor Philip B. Scott, President Donald J. Trump, U.S.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and the Vermont Congressional
Delegation.