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Amid fears of escalation, local and state leaders remain stymied by feds over Burlington ICE facility
Reports of a large shipment of vehicles coming to the Burlington ICE facility are a "huge worry," the chair of the Burlington Select Board said.
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As new reports circulate online about a large shipment of unmarked vehicles being delivered to the ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts residents are growing more concerned about the possibility of an immigration crackdown that mirrors the aggressive operation in Minnesota. At the same time, local and state officials say they are being severely limited by the federal government in any efforts to address concerns about conditions within the Burlington facility.
The facility, ICE’s regional field office located on District Avenue, has been the target of protest activity and scrutiny from Democratic officials for many months. It is not designed as a detainment center, but amid a surge of arrests last year ICE began keeping detainees there overnight. Immigrant advocates, lawyers, and detainees themselves say that conditions inside are sometimes inhumane.
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Activists recently documented the delivery of two dozen seemingly new SUVs at the Burlington facility, raising fears that ICE could be preparing to use it as a staging ground for a major operation.
Mike Espejo, chair of the Burlington Select Board, was sent videos of the SUV deliveries soon after they were taken.
“In light of what’s happening in Minnesota, of course there’s a fear and a worry that we’re next as far as an increased presence. Bringing those types of assets right into Burlington is a huge worry for us,” he told Boston.com.
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That worry coincides with a larger feeling of helplessness that Espejo says grew as local officials were stymied in their efforts to conduct any oversight of the facility.
The Select Board made a formal request with ICE to inspect the building last summer, but were denied more than a month later by federal officials who cited “operational security considerations.” The town also filed an injunction request in district court with the same goal, Espejo said. The request included affidavits from Rep. Seth Moulton and Marcelo Gomes da Silva, the Milford teen who spent six nights inside the Burlington facility last year, but was rejected.
Espejo and other town officials have explored every legal option available to them without much success, he said.
“The Supremacy Clause makes it very tough for any of us to get anything done. It’s just been a very frustrating ordeal not only for the town but for the Select Board in general. We apparently don’t have much jurisdiction over a building in our town,” he said.
Moulton and other members of Congress have been allowed inside the Burlington building on select occasions. Conditions inside are inadequate for detainees staying there for extended periods of time, they have said.
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ICE officials maintain that detainees in Burlington are well cared for and are not regularly kept there overnight.
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Town leaders are in contact both with congresspeople like Moulton and Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office. Campbell was asked about Burlington Tuesday during an appearance on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.”
ICE and the federal government have significant legal authority when it comes to immigration enforcement, she said. Campbell has the power to conduct oversight of state-run prisons and jails, she said, but little to no ability to do that for federal facilities.
Campbell did say that she could work with US Attorney Leah Foley to address concerns about Burlington, but that Foley’s office has not been receptive to collaborating with her.
“We both could say, we’re not liking the conditions and complaints we’re getting on Burlington, let’s come together to improve conditions there. But unfortunately we don’t have a real working relationship to be able to do that,” Campbell said on GBH.
Foley’s office did not return a request for comment.
Burlington residents voiced their objections to federal officials in 2007, shortly after the facility was built. At the time, ICE committed to complying with all zoning ordinances required by the town and assured residents that no detainees would be held overnight, according to records presented by Town Meeting members in October.
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Some Town Meeting members believe that ICE is now violating Burlington’s zoning bylaws. They overwhelmingly voted to condemn the agency’s actions, a largely symbolic move meant to draw attention to the treatment of immigrants and protect the town’s reputation.
“They can pretty much move the goalposts as they see fit,” Espejo said. “As frustrating as that is, we’re just trying to ensure that everyone has fair and humane treatment.”
Outside the facility, protesters gather every Wednesday to demonstrate their displeasure with ICE and the Trump administration as a whole. Four people, including a Brandeis professor and a local minister, were arrested when they tried to deliver care packages to detainees last month.
The Burlington Police Department also maintains a presence there. Chief Thomas Browne assigned a captain and a lieutenant to oversee any issues with the facility, and the department is in regular contact with protest organizers. Burlington police have done an exceptional job keeping the peace there, Espejo said.
He also praised the protesters.
“The community has been unbelievable and amazing. It kind of gives you hope for things that people do care and people are willing to stand out there in 20 degree weather just to show their displeasure and their support for people going through the process,” he said. “It’s a helpless feeling but we’re doing what we can.”
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