by Dave Soulia, FYIVT.COM

On April 14, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian national and lawful U.S. permanent resident, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a scheduled citizenship interview at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont.

The Vermont Senate responded April 29 by passing Senate Resolution 13 (SR-13), which strongly objected to the “manner and circumstances” of Mahdawi’s arrest, characterizing it as “immoral, inhumane, and illegal.” However, a close examination of the available facts reveals discrepancies between the language of the resolution and the documented events.

Preceded by several ‘whereas’ statements, the Resolution states:
“That the Senate of the State of Vermont strongly objects to the manner and circumstances under which U.S. immigration authorities arrested and detained Mohsen Mahdawi and strongly advocate that he be afforded due process under the law and released immediately from detention, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send a copy of this resolution to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons, and the Vermont Congressional Delegation.”

The Arrest

According to multiple reports, including coverage by the Vermont Daily Chronicle and The Guardian, Mahdawi arrived at his scheduled naturalization interview expecting to complete the final step toward U.S. citizenship. Instead, he was met by plainclothes ICE agents who placed him under arrest. The agents reportedly wore masks, a practice common among federal law enforcement officers operating in regions where public hostility toward immigration enforcement is high, such as Vermont.

There are no reports indicating that Mahdawi was physically mistreated, verbally abused, or otherwise handled roughly during his arrest. He was subsequently transported to a detention facility pending immigration proceedings. Senator Rebecca White (D – Windsor District), who was present at the scene and recorded and photographed the arrest, later introduced SR-13 objecting to the action. However, despite witnessing the arrest firsthand, White has made no allegations of physical abuse, mistreatment, or procedural misconduct by ICE agents, instead directing her objections at what she described as the political motivations behind the arrest.

Official ICE protocols, outlined in the ICE HSI Arrest Procedures Handbook, permit the use of plainclothes officers and discretion in operational tactics to minimize risks to officers, the public, and the subject of arrest. The use of masks is also permitted where agents’ personal security might be compromised.

Here’s the roll call for S.R.13. No action has been taken in the House.