Seven Vermont Clergy Arrested While Protesting ICE Raid at Refugee Center

Seven Vermont clergy members were arrested this week while staging a nonviolent protest against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation at a refugee center in the state.

The pastors, ministers, and faith leaders said they positioned themselves at the entrance of the center to block access by federal agents. Police arrested all seven on charges related to obstruction.

The clergy members, representing several Christian denominations, said their faith required them to act. "We cannot stand by while families are torn apart," said one of the arrested ministers in a statement released after the incident.

Faith-based organizations across Vermont have been increasingly vocal about immigration enforcement actions in recent months. Several churches in the state have declared themselves sanctuary congregations, offering shelter and legal assistance to undocumented immigrants.

ICE officials confirmed the operation was part of a broader enforcement effort and said agents followed proper legal procedures. The agency did not comment on the clergy arrests specifically.

The seven clergy members were released after processing. Their attorneys said they plan to contest the charges. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse holding signs and singing hymns as the group was released.

The arrests drew national attention from religious advocacy groups, who called the action a modern example of civil disobedience rooted in Christian tradition. Critics of the protest argued that clergy should not interfere with lawful federal operations.

The incident adds to a growing list of confrontations between faith communities and immigration authorities across the country this year.