Vermont Judges Systematically Dismantle ICE Detentions, Raising Constitutional Concerns

A string of court victories for detainees highlights potential civil rights violations by federal immigration authorities

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:25am

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In a series of court hearings, four out of five people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Vermont were released by federal judges who found their detentions potentially unconstitutional. The cases exposed a pattern of ICE citing unverified criminal histories to justify detentions, as well as mistaken identities and questionable tactics that may have violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Why it matters

The Vermont cases highlight growing concerns about ICE's aggressive tactics and the potential for civil rights violations, as the agency continues its crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration. The rulings also raise questions about the role of state and local law enforcement in assisting federal immigration authorities.

The details

In three separate incidents, ICE agents conducted raids and traffic stops in Vermont, detaining a total of five individuals. However, none of the people they were originally seeking were found, and four of the five detainees were ultimately released by federal judges who found their detentions potentially unconstitutional. The judges criticized ICE for citing unverified criminal histories to justify detentions, as well as for executing search warrants and making arrests of individuals not named in the warrants.

  • On March 11, ICE agents raided a home in South Burlington, Vermont, looking for a man named Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez.
  • On March 12, ICE agents detained two men, Jaime Eliceo Castro Guaman and a 24-year-old whose name has not been released, in an unrelated traffic stop in Burlington.
  • Over the next nine days, four of the five detainees were released by federal judges, who found their detentions potentially unconstitutional.

The players

Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez

The man ICE was originally seeking in the South Burlington raid, but who was not actually present.

Daysi Camila Patin Patin

A 20-year-old woman who was detained in the South Burlington raid, but later released by a federal judge.

Cristian Humberto Jerez Andrade

A 31-year-old man who was detained in the South Burlington raid, but later released by an immigration court.

Jaime Eliceo Castro Guaman

A 40-year-old man who was detained in the unrelated Burlington traffic stop, but later released by a federal judge.

Colton Riley

The ICE deportation officer whose attempt to pull over a car started the chain of events that led to the South Burlington raid.

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What they’re saying

“Without the support of all of you, none of this would have been possible. I wouldn't be here with you today.”

— Cristian Humberto Jerez Andrade

“The struggle for accountability now begins.”

— Will Lambek, Organizer, Migrant Justice

What’s next

Migrant Justice, the immigrant rights group that mobilized support for the detainees, is now exploring avenues for accountability, including internal affairs investigations, hearings at the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, litigation, and oversight by elected officials. Vermont lawmakers have also convened a public hearing to further investigate the recent ICE operations.

The takeaway

The Vermont cases highlight the potential for civil rights violations by ICE and the need for greater oversight and accountability of the agency's tactics, especially as the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues. The rulings also raise questions about the role of state and local law enforcement in assisting federal immigration authorities.