Panel pinpoints racial profiling Residents talk with local police about illegal workers in Vt.

Author: Amanda Cormier

On Nov. 20, representatives from Vermont State Police, Middlebury Police Department and the Middlebury Select Board convened to answer questions about policies regarding undocumented foreign nationals in Middlebury. The issue of undocumented foreign nationals working in the agricultural sector has long been a subject of debate in Vermont. But at the Nov. 20 meeting, local concerns seemed to converge on the topic of racial profiling of undocumented workers.

The panel was one in a series of eight events designed to coincide with an exhibit at the Vermont Folklife Center titled, "The Golden Cage: Mexican Migrant Workers and Vermont Dairy Farmers." Brent Bjorkman, Executive Director of the Vermont Folklife Center, said the exhibit and the corresponding events have prompted a similarly positive response from the community.

"I wasn't sure what the response to the exhibit was going to be," he said. "At a recent film, there was time for dairy farmers to talk about why they employ undocumented workers. I think people are thankful that the issue is finally being talked about. To me, it's a sigh of relief."

Bjorkman intended for the series of events to add a voice to the photos and interviews on display at the exhibit.

"It's great to have an exhibit, but we wanted to make the issue more engaging and socially aware to folks," he said. "Hearing the voices of the farmers, workers and law enforcement brings the issue into the public forum and increases the dialogue."

Tom Tremblay, Commissioner of Public Safety for the Vermont State Police, answered several questions about the State Police's protocol when stopping cars for minor infractions like speeding or a broken taillight. Several locals, some from the Addison County Farm Workers Coalition (ACFWC), voiced concern that state police use racial profiling to stop drivers who they think may be undocumented. Tremblay reiterated that state police officers only stop vehicles found in violation of state or municipal law and emphasized that they run background checks on every driver they stop.

Cheryl Mitchell, co-convener of ACFWC, said that the concerns about racial profiling are indicative of many locals' stance on the issue of illegal immigration in Vermont.

"There was little backlash in the county at the beginning to the tune of 'Why are these people stealing jobs?'" she said, "But people have realized that they are clearly keeping the economic engines alive."

Middlebury Chief of Police Tom Hanley brought forth a new policy regarding undocumented foreign nationals before the Select Board in September 2007. The policy is similar to that of the state police in that it will only refer undocumented foreign nationals to the respective Federal agency when "the person is known to have committed a crime against the statutes of the State of Vermont" or is suspected of criminal conduct other than the person's own immigration status. It was unanimously endorsed by the Board and enacted in October 2007.

"There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the policy," Hanley said. "Any negative opinion came from people who don't live around here. I've seen some pretty bizarre letters."