By Cory Dawson
Associated Press
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont state and local police would be prohibited from collecting personal information on residents beyond what is needed to carry out their law enforcement duties, under a bill making its way through the state House in the wake of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The legislation, crafted with help from Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic Attorney General T.J. Donovan, would also bar police in some instances from providing information on residents to federal agents and would empower the governor to approve agreements between police and federal agents who want to identify and remove immigrants.
The specified restrictions on police information-gathering stems from concerns it could be used to help build a federal registry.
The Senate unanimously passed the bill last week; the House Judiciary Committee considered the measure Thursday but took no action.
Vermont joins other states that are considering similar legislation in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders that target many more immigrants for deportation than were targeted under the Obama administration. Trump’s directives also say the federal government can withhold grant money to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, meaning states, cities or towns that ignore certain federal immigration laws.
House Minority Leader Rep. Don Turner opposes the bill, saying in a phone interview Thursday that Vermont hasn’t had any issues with immigration authorities and the legislation seems unnecessary.
“I continue to think that (this bill) is a solution in search of a problem,” he said, adding that police could increasingly be the target of lawsuits if it passes.
Turner said if the legislation reaches the House floor he expects Republicans to split on the issue and vote according to what they are hearing from their constituents.
“I know people on both sides of this issue have come to me on this,” Turner said. “I always say talk to your constituents.”
The Milton Republican said constituents who have called him oppose the bill.
Lawyers for the governor and for the attorney general said the bill included language that makes sure Vermont’s laws are not in conflict with two key federal immigration laws that could lead to Vermont being labeled a sanctuary jurisdiction. The two laws allow federal immigration agents to get information from the Immigration and Naturalization Service unhindered by state law.
Lawyer Rebecca Wasserman the Office of Legislative Counsel cautioned the committee that the Department of Homeland Security has wide discretion to define sanctuary jurisdictions.
“It’s a broadly used term that is not clearly defined,” she said.