Immigration enforcement has dramatically intensified in Vermont, transforming dairy farms into sites of fear and confinement for undocumented workers who are increasingly isolated due to surging ICE raids and detentions.
Last spring, José Edilberto Molina-Aguilar and five co-workers were arrested at Vermont's largest dairy farm by US Customs and Border Protection, an event described as the largest single immigration arrest of farm workers in recent state history. This incident underscores a broader climate of fear among undocumented dairy laborers along the Vermont-Canada border, where federal arrests have soared tenfold under the Trump administration. Workers, like Molina-Aguilar who was released with an ankle monitor while others were deported, are now largely confined to their farms, fearing even essential trips for medical appointments or groceries. The article details instances of alleged racial profiling during arrests, the challenges of seeking asylum, and the resilience of workers who, despite precarious conditions, continue to work and dream of returning to their families with savings.
