Forty-one Vermont lawmakers are asking Immigration and Customs Enforcement to drop federal deportation proceedings against 10 migrant farmworkers.
The elected officials believe immigration authorities may have targeted the men because of their activism.
All 10 of the men are members of an organization called Migrant Justice, and they鈥檇 all advocated for migrant farmworker protections before they were arrested on alleged immigration violations.
"The 10 men are from Mexico and have lived in Vermont for years, primarily working and living on dairy farms," Migrant Justice wrote in a press release. "Some ... were pulled over while driving. Others were detained while . One was detained after . All have since been released from ICE custody on bond, yet they remain in deportation proceedings."
Migrant Justice on behalf of the 10 men in June, asking ICE to close their cases.
And this week, Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, Chittenden County Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Winooski Rep. Taylor Small organized an effort to to ICE from 41 Vermont lawmakers.
鈥淭hese 10 men were all connected to Migrant Justice, and were really working on improving working conditions and improving human rights here in the state of Vermont," Small said. "And I think that鈥檚 the piece that we鈥檙e really leaning into.鈥�
The Biden administration issued a memorandum late last year that encourages ICE not to pursue deportation for all immigration violations.
The memorandum also bans ICE from targeting activists.
ICE has not responded to an interview request from 开云体育.
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