By Camryn Brauns

Republished with permission from the Waterbury Roundabout

Even in a sanctuary state like Vermont, where approximately 4.5% of the state’s population consists of foreign-born citizens, communities are coming together to prepare and educate their concerned members at risk or affected by Trump administration executive orders targeting immigrants.

Rev. Peter Plagge of the Waterbury Congregational Church hopes to make his place of worship an official sanctuary. A statement of intent regarding sanctuary church status is featured in the church’s 2024 annual report posted on its website along with detailed resources and information. 

“The reason that we’re looking into this in the first place is because it seems as though people’s rights are being violated,” Plagge said of the Trump administration’s orders in recent weeks. 

According to Plagge, a group has discussed what it would mean for the church to become a sanctuary. A general agreement to answer questions and find a solution will continue as they meet with legal counsel, he said, before any further public statements are made.

“I hope if we end up doing this we lead by example,” Plagge said. “But I recognize it’s a complicated and difficult process, and there’s some risk involved obviously.”

In order to become a sanctuary, a church is required to be transparent in offering its services. In doing so, Plagge recognizes he may be putting the spotlight on people seeking refuge in the church.

“Yes it has to do with politics,” Plagge said. “It has mostly to do with, at least in our eyes, justice and the question of whether certain groups are facing injustice at the hands of the government.” 

Duxbury resident Life LeGeros just ended a term on the Harwood Union Unified School District school board and is a founding member of the Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition. He shares a similar concern to Plagge when it comes to sanctuary schools.

“If you’re trying to let people know that they’re safe, you have to pronounce that. You have to say ‘Here’s where you can find refuge and information’,” LeGeros said, “But if we put a target on us, that’s not necessarily going to be helpful.”

At school board meetings earlier this year, LeGeros said he admires the Winooski School District’s vocal approach to sanctuary school policies and has suggested that Harwood do the same.

“There’s a hopefulness that we can be creative and figure this out,” LeGeros said. “But it’s very complex.” 

LeGeros’ efforts as an educator and social justice advocate put him at the forefront of witnessing what he calls an “othering” of marginalized groups. He’s seen how immigration enforcement policies have affected his community. 

“The thing is, those “others” – when you get down to a community level – we know these people,” LeGeros said. “They’re here, they’re contributing, but they’re more than that. They’re necessary and they make us better.”

LeGeros said this “othering” is fundamentally divisive and hateful. Now, he’s noticed its effects spreading beyond those marginalized groups. 

“The tide has turned where it’s not just those people who are being othered, which hurts everybody,” LeGeros said of the president’s executive orders. “They’re also setting up the situation where if you care about the people being othered, if you care about the marginalized and vulnerable, then you are in danger of being put in that category too.”

But LeGeros is holding on to hope. Whether it’s playing pick-up games of soccer with his neighbors or checking in with community members he bumps into at the grocery store, he sees the resilience of Vermonters.

“When we come together as a WAARC group, as a community, even as a school board, every day in classrooms across our community there are chances for people to say ‘this is what makes us, ‘us’.”

State shares school guidance

The Harwood School District has not enacted any new policies around this issue to date, but Superintendent Mike Leichliter at the Jan. 22 school board meeting shared guidance from Vermont Education Secretary Zoie Saunders to school administrators across the state.

“This guidance is intended to assist schools in ensuring that immigrant students have equal access to educational opportunities,” the communication states. “Public schools may not deny access to students based on immigration status.”

It cites a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case that concluded that “all students, including undocumented students, have a right to attend public schools.” Likewise, Saunders’ memo states, “Vermont state law also enshrines the rights of all Vermont students – regardless of immigration status – to educational opportunities that are substantially equal.” 

The state guidance lays out ground rules for school districts noting that schools are not required to collect information related to a student’s or their family’s legal citizenship or immigration status. Student records are also protected by federal privacy law. 

And while federal agents are restricted from school grounds and buses, the guidance notes that could be subject to change. Under current law, however, schools are not required to allow federal agents into a school unless they have a court order or warrant, the guidance points out. 

Hesitant to discuss the matter further, the superintendent shared a direct quote from a Brookings Institute article titled, “Immigration Enforcement in US Schools: What Could Happen and What Should Education Leaders Do”: “Finally, for school leaders considering public political statements opposing federal actions, I would advocate for discretion. Quiet collaboration with superintendents to establish resources may better protect vulnerable families than actions that risk drawing unwanted attention to their immigration status.”

Seek out credible information 

Waterbury Select Board Vice Chair Kane Sweeney said there is no action the town government is taking at this time. However, he shared his thoughts on misinformation surrounding immigration enforcement presence in Vermont.

“What I should say though is that the misinformation has been crazy and I’m urging people to not simply trust word of mouth when it comes to ICE activity and to check multiple sources before communicating the activity to others,” Sweeney said.

Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont has noticed issues in the language surrounding the subject of immigration enforcement as well.

“I think a lot of people are feeling afraid about the rhetoric that they’re hearing,” Rich said. “And also the risk of real harm of community members.”

Rich empathizes with concerned Vermonters and said she understands the feelings of uncertainty and fear that these executive orders have generated. 

“It’s not just the number of people, but the breadth of people,” Rich said. “We’re getting requests from non-citizens, we’re getting requests from allies and advocates in the community, but we’re also getting requests from school administrators, business owners, and spiritual leaders.”

According to the ACLU’s Communication Director Emily Hagan-Howe, website activity has increased by about 40% and social media impressions have tripled in the past three months compared to activity recorded at this time last year.

“One thing that I think is especially important in this moment is that people know their rights and the institutions also know their responsibilities as well,” Rich said.

Hagan-Howe said there are ways that Vermonters can support their communities: “We are seeing an influx of messages from concerned Vermonters who want to better understand their rights and learn how they can help defend and advance civil liberties in our state. Engaging with organizations like the ACLU, Migrant Justice, Outright Vermont, and other non-profits who are fighting for a more fair and just Vermont is vital to protecting our democracy – as is checking in on your neighbors and loved ones, participating in mutual aid efforts, and sharing reliable information about the issues facing our communities.”

The Waterbury Roundabout is an online community news outlet.