Migrant Justice Justicia Migrante

Community leaders Nacho and Heidi were violently detained by Border Patrol while delivering food to local farmworkers. Agents stopped over without cause, smashed their window, and pulled them out of their car. For the past two weeks, they have been unjustly held in detention.

On July 7th and 8th, both will have their first hearings in federal court to challenge their unlawful detention and request immediate release. Outside, community supporters will gather to stand with Heidi and Nacho – and to stand up to ICE’s attacks.

Join us in front of the Federal Courthouse in Burlington, VT (11 Elmwood Ave) on Monday 7/7 and Tuesday 7/8 at 2:30pm. Rally to free Nacho and Heidi!

The detention of Heidi and Nacho – and ICE’s efforts to deport them – coincides with a landmark week for immigrant communities in Vermont. On July 1st, two new laws took effect. They are the result of years of courageous and tireless organizing led by Nacho, Heidi, and their community to advance the human rights of immigrants in the state.

Read more to learn about Nacho and Heidi’s impact expanding rights for immigrant Vermonters.

After this spring’s breakthroughs in the campaign inviting Hannaford Supermarket to join the Milk with Dignity Program, we are taking the campaign on the road. Migrant Justice is announcing a series of pickets this summer to expand the reach of the Milk with Dignity campaign. Join farmworkers at a Hannaford near you for the Milk with Dignity Summer Series! 

The Milk with Dignity Summer Series kicks off Saturday 6/28, 11am-3pm, in Plattsburgh, NY (7 Pyramid Drive). Join farmworkers on the Hannaford picket line!

Read more to get the full story on the summer series!

On June 16th, less than two days after the violent and unlawful detention of Nacho and Heidi, hundreds gathered in front of the Vermont State House in an emergency rally demanding freedom for the Migrant Justice leaders. In an emotionally-charged event, loved ones spoke out against the government’s cruel separation of families as chants reverberated through the streets of the state capital: “Nacho, Heidi, no están solos!” You are not alone!

At the rally, speaker after speaker highlighted Nacho and Heidi’s fearless leadership advancing the struggle for human rights in Vermont, from winning protections from police discrimination, to expanding access to higher education and housing, to campaigning for Milk with Dignity. At just 18-year-old, Heidi’s impact as a young leader was on full display when Regina, a 10-year-old member of the Migrant Justice community, said through tears: “Heidi is an inspiration to me. When I grow up, I want to be just like her.”

Read more to learn the latest on their case, and to take action to support another Migrant Justice leader at risk of detention!

Two Migrant Justice leaders were detained by Border Patrol agents in Vermont on June 14th. Jose Ignacio “Nacho” De La Cruz was driving with his stepdaughter Heidi Perez in Franklin County when they were pulled over. Agents smashed their car window and violently detained the two community leaders. Both are now at risk of imminent deportation. 

Send a message to ICE to free Nacho and Heidi!

As U.S. Marines patrol the streets of Los Angeles to repress dissent against ICE raids, it is clear that attacks on immigrant communities and their defenders will continue to escalate under this administration. Vermont is not exempt from these intensifying attacks, yet despite the risks, immigrant communities refuse to be silenced.

Migrant Justice is building community power, not only to defend against ICE and Border Patrol arrests, but to push forward new rights and protections. For the last two years, we have led the fight in the legislature for Housing Access for Immigrant Families. The proposal was recently passed by the Vermont House and Senate and is now sitting on the Governor’s desk, poised to become law.

Read more to get the full story!

Max, José, and Arbey – three of the nine workers detained by Border Patrol in Franklin County last month – are now safely back in Vermont, thanks to overwhelming community support! Thousands of people signed petitions and marched in the streets demanding their release from immigration detention.

Arriving back in Vermont on the morning of May 30, after a month in detention and an arduous four-day journey home, José celebrated his release:

“I am free thanks to the support of the entire Migrant Justice community. Together, we’ll keep fighting to free the rest. We must continue forward united as the powerful community that we are.”

Read more to get the full story!

Vermont dairy worker Diblaim Maximo Sargento-Morales has returned to Vermont after weeks in immigration detention. Another member of the farmworker community, Arbey Lopez-Lopez, has been ordered released on bond by an immigration judge after receiving widespread community support.

Sargento-Morales, known to friends as Max, flew to Burlington International Airport over the weekend after his release from Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Texas. An enthusiastic crowd of supporters gathered to welcome him home, breaking into applause and chants as he arrived at the terminal. Max had been held in detention for nearly a month before returning home to friends and family.

Sargento-Morales was part of a group of eight farmworkers detained by Border Patrol last month in the largest immigration enforcement action on a farm in recent Vermont history. An immigration judge in Chelmsford, MA ordered his release last Thursday, setting bond for Mr. Sargento-Morales at the lowest amount allowed by law.

In a separate hearing on Monday, an immigration judge ordered the release of Arbey Lopez-Lopez, a member of the farmworker community detained in April after he was pulled over by Border Patrol while driving to deliver groceries to a farm. Mr. Lopez-Lopez has been in immigration detention for 42 days, primarily at the New Hampshire federal prison FCI Berlin. He is expected to be released and returned to Vermont later today, where he will be reunited with his 5-year-old daughter.

Read more for the full press release.

Community celebrates ruling while continuing to fight for others’ release

An immigration judge in Chelmsford, MA has ordered the release of one of the detained Vermont farmworkers, Diblaim Maximo Sargento-Morales. The judge set bond for Mr. Sargento-Morales at $1,500, the lowest possible amount. 

Dozens of farmworker community members and allies attending the virtual hearing from the Migrant Justice office in Vermont celebrated the ruling. Mr. Sargento-Morales, known to friends as Max, will likely be released and return to Vermont in the coming days. 

In the related cases of Arbey Lopez-Lopez and Jose Edilberto Molina-Aguilar, a separate immigration judge declined to hear motions for their release on bond. The bond motion for Mr. Lopez-Lopez will be heard on Monday 5/19 in Chelmsford Immigration Court. 

Read more for the full press release.

On International Workers’ Day, farmworkers led a 16-hour picket of Hannaford Supermarket, urging potential customers to withhold their purchases and demand Milk with Dignity. The action was an overwhelming success: the picketed Hannaford store in Williston, VT lost nearly 500 customers throughout the day, a drop in sales of over 25%!

Labor unions, faith communities, community organizations, and student groups all joined farmworkers on the picket line, marching and chanting from the store’s opening at 7am until its close at 11pm. In typical Vermont spring fashion, the day began below freezing, rose to a sunny high in the 70s, and ended in a driving downpour. But the weather did little to dampen the spirits of the picketers.

The action swelled in numbers throughout the day, cresting in the evening as thousands of marchers joined the Hannaford picket. The feeder march brought farmworkers together with others rallying for immigrant rights, workers’ rights, and solidarity with Palestine. The mass march passed by the offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where speakers celebrated the release from immigration detention of Palestinian Vermonter Mohsen Mahdawi – detained during his citizenship interview over his activism – and called for the release of the nine members of Vermont’s farmworker community detained in recent weeks.

Read more to get the full story!

Of the nine members of Vermont’s farmworker community detained by Border Patrol in April, three have been deported to Mexico while six others remain in immigration detention. Community supporters and elected officials are continuing to advocate for the release of those held in detention.

On April 21st, armed Border Patrol agents entered a Franklin County farm and detained eight workers in one of the largest worksite detentions in recent Vermont history. Less than two weeks prior, on April 9th, Border Patrol agents pulled over and detained Arbey Lopez as he was driving to the same farm to deliver groceries to the workers.

Take action now! Sign the petitions to Free the Farmworkers and Free Arbey!

Read the full press release