One year after their detention by ICE, Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi share their stories in their own words, and more!
Visit acluvt.org/publications/spring-nl to read the full issue.
From the "people power" of our local communities and partners to our nationwide strategy to delay, dilute, and defeat authoritarian policies, this edition reflects on how Vermont is showing up in solidarity to protect our collective freedoms.
Our Spring 2026 Newsletter is here!
In this issue, we dive into our ongoing efforts pushing back on the Trump administration's attempts to divide and disorient us. This includes the 2026 legislative priorities we are championing to protect immigrants' rights, bodily autonomy, and economic justice.
Visit acluvt.org/news to learn more in our latest blog post.
There are bills in the legislature right now that would hold officials accountable and protect our civil liberties. Contact your legislators today and tell them to support these crucial bills—tell them that in Vermont, no one is above the law, and every neighbor deserves protection.
When local agencies prioritize ICE’s agenda over community well-being, they betray the very people they are sworn to protect. We cannot let this violence become the “new normal” in Vermont.
The accounts were harrowing and the message was clear: local law enforcement didn't stop the violence perpetrated by ICE – they escalated it.
On March 31, at a public hearing before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, community members gathered to share their stories and bear witness to the state-sanctioned terror that unfolded on Dorset Street on March 11.
Register today at vnrc.org/vtchangemakerssummit
We look forward to seeing you there.
Our session will focus on your rights when interacting with immigration enforcement agents as a bystander, as well as your rights to protest.
This is about more than just a workshop; it’s about meeting our neighbors, exercising our rights, and strengthening our democracy from the grassroots up.
As part of the summit's incredible lineup—including keynote speakers Becca Balint, Sarah Copeland Hanzas, and Mike Pieciak—we will be presenting our Know Your Rights training.
We are heading to Moretown on Saturday, April 11th, for a full day of workshops, networking, and community-building. With so much chaos in the world and ongoing efforts to divide us, this is a vital moment to come together, share our stories, and forge a path forward to protect all Vermonters.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
The governor’s short-sighted and single-minded obsession with denying access to shelter is hurting people, families, and communities statewide. We continue to demand better for our state.
Over 4,000 Vermonters are experiencing homelessness in our state. Shelters are at capacity, vacancy rates have dropped to under 3%, and the cost of rent has skyrocketed. And yet, there are no exceptions, emergency stopgaps, or alternative solutions in play.
As of this morning, those limits have taken effect once more, leaving hundreds of Vermonters without access to shelter. Everyone who is currently housed in the program has been deemed "vulnerable" in some way, but there are no exceptions or alternative solutions in play.
It doesn't have to be this way.
The governor’s short-sighted and single-minded obsession with denying access to shelter is hurting people, families, and communities statewide. We continue to demand better for our state.
It doesn't have to be this way. The governor’s short-sighted and single-minded obsession with denying access to shelter is hurting people, families, and communities statewide.
We continue to demand better for our state.
The General Assistance (GA) emergency housing program has served our communities for decades. But over the last several years, the Governor has been pushing lawmakers to make drastic cuts to the program.
Images of hospital bed, house keys, and tent
Today, we find ourselves faced with another mass unsheltering of our most vulnerable neighbors by our elected leaders. Year after year, the governor has rejected comprehensive reforms that would address Vermont’s status as a state with one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country. 🧵
Ready to speak up? We’ve got you covered with tips and talking points. If you can't make it in person on Tuesday, there is a hybrid option as well as ways to submit written testimony.
Visit acluvt.org/public-hearing to sign up to testify, learn how to submit written comments, and more.
Vermont needs to decide how to respond to the violence of mass deportation. Your voice is the most powerful tool we have to demand change. Join us next Tuesday at the State House for a public hearing to tell lawmakers: Protect our communities.
Legislators need to hear from YOU.
On March 11th, ICE and Border Patrol turned a peaceful South Burlington neighborhood into a war zone. This abuse of power—and the involvement of local law enforcement—demands accountability.
Join us at noon to unite in solidarity with our community and our neighbors as we show Vermont what democracy looks like.
To find a No Kings protest near you, visit nokings.org
In the wake of the systemic violence we witnessed in South Burlington, we are heading to the Capitol to address this abuse of power head-on and stand firm for our constitutional freedoms.
We’re taking our turn at the mic. This Saturday, the ACLU-VT will be speaking at NO KINGS 3 in Montpelier, and we hope to see you there.
Lawmakers are deciding the fate of H. 772 today. We’re calling on our lawmakers to prioritize people over displacement.
We need your voice today! Please go to action.aclu.org/send-message/vt-landlord-tenant and urge your representative(s) to vote NO on H.772.
Instead of providing relief, the legislature is considering H. 772—a bill that would fast-track evictions and strip away essential tenant protections for thousands of our neighbors.
Right now, Vermont’s housing crisis is at a breaking point.
Policy decisions have led us to an unprecedented housing crisis, and as a result, Vermont is currently facing the 4th highest rate of homelessness in the country.
These sessions will focus on your rights when interacting with immigration enforcement agents as a bystander, as well as your rights to protest.
We will see you next Orleans! Visit acluvt.org/news to register today and invite a friend or neighbor to join us!
This is about more than just information; it’s about meeting our neighbors, standing our ground as a community, and strengthening our democracy from the grassroots up.