Homeland Security says they’re saving lives by catching dangerous criminals

By VDC staff

ICE Out Vermont Alliance, a statewide coalition of community, faith-based, and activist organizations, will hold a funeral procession and nonviolent sit-in in Williston on Friday, November 6, in remembrance of the more than 100 people who have died at the hands of ICE since January 2025.

“Since January 2025, 102 people that we’ve been able to identify have died directly as a result of ICE enforcement actions or while in ICE custody. These victims include children as young as 3 years old and adults as old as 85 years,” said ICE Out VT organizer Drew Hudson. “These deaths and other atrocities committed by ICE underscore the need to replace ICE with a humane immigration system that respects everyone’s dignity and rights. “

The funeral procession and sit-in will highlight two Williston facilities supporting ICE operations across the country. The National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center (NCATC) develops leads for enforcement operations, while the Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) runs a 24-hour nationwide tip line. ICE has also recently announced adding 24 contractors at the facilities as part of a broader intelligence staffing expansion. 

“We are gathering to grieve and to call attention to the human cost of this system,” said Paul Markowitz, a core organizer. “We believe ICE must be abolished and replaced with a humane immigration system that recognizes everyone’s dignity and value.” 

The procession will begin shortly after 9 a.m. at the NCATC at 426 Industrial Ave., Williston and will make its way to the LESC at 188 Harvest Lane – a distance of approximately 1 ¼ miles. The procession is designed to symbolically highlight the linkage  between these two ICE facilities which serve as national nerve centers for identifying and targeting immigrants for arrest, detention, and ultimately deportation. Participants will carry coffins and tombstones and draw chalk silhouettes to mark the route. 

At the LESC, clergy will lead a ritual of mourning which will be followed by a press conference and a mock trial. Speakers at the press conference will include

• Drew Hudson, 198 methods founder and ICE Out VT Core team member;
• Paul Markowitz, ICE Out VT Core team member;
• Rev. Dr. Lise Sparrow, United Church of Christ; &
• Jill Martin Diaz, ESQ, Executive Director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project.

At 11 a.m., trained participants will hold a nonviolent sit-in at the LESC Supporters may gather legally in a designated nearby area.

The Alliance also calls for an end to the criminalization and surveillance of immigrants, fair hearings and legal services for people in ICE custody, and stronger protections against discriminatory policing. 

The federal government maintains that ICE agents are saving lives by taking killers, drug dealers, and other felons off the streets. Here is a November 2 press release:

Over the weekend, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested criminal illegal aliens from across the country convicted for heinous crimes including homicide – negligent manslaughter with a vehicle, criminal rape of a child, and first-degree rape.

“While Americans enjoyed their weekends, the brave patriots of ICE were working around the clock to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our communities, including murderers, pedophiles, and rapists,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Sanctuary politicians do not change ICE’s mission nor its obligation to enforce the law. Every crime committed by an illegal alien is 100% preventable.”

This weekend’s arrests include:

Gerardo Ruiz Castillo, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, convicted for voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon in Clark County, Nevada.

Priscila Antonia Regalado Vazquez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for homicide – negligent manslaughter with a vehicle in Gallatin, Tennessee.

Marvin Wilfredo Ruano-Vides, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, convicted for involuntary manslaughter and illegal reentry in Chelsea, New Jersey.

Jair Fernandes De Oliveira-Junior, a criminal illegal alien from Brazil, convicted for criminal rape of a child, TWO counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old, and kidnapping in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Salvador Leon-Vasquez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, convicted for first-degree child molestation and second-degree child molestation in Franklin County, Washington.

Jose Enrique Garcia-Vazquez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 years old in Santa Clara, California.

Andres Acosta-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, convicted for indecent liberties with a child in Sampson County, North Carolina.

William Gonzalez-Luna, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for sex with a minor: more than three years younger in Santa Maria, California.

Hector Medina-Baldovinos, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for attempted sexual assault of a child in Dakota County, Nebraska.

Carlos Cedillo-Morales, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for first-degree rape in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Mario Rodriguez-Ramirez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for rape in Nashville, Tennessee.

Carlos Junnior Castro-Gonzales, a criminal illegal alien from Peru, convicted for fourth-degree criminal sexual contact in Saddle River, New Jersey.

Santiago Gudino, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for assault, participating in racketeering activity, and cocaine sale in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Byron Alberto Ramos-Alvarado, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, convicted for second-degree aggravated assault in Dover, Delaware.

Abdulkerim Kedir Halid, a criminal illegal alien from Ethiopia, convicted for armed robbery in Montgomery County, Maryland. 

Americans can see more public safety threats arrested in their communities on our webpage at WOW.DHS.Gov.