ICE Detains Workers at Newport Job Site Despite Legal Work Status Claims

Federal immigration authorities detained about 10 workers at a Newport construction site late last week, in an enforcement action that advocates say targeted individuals who were legally authorized to work in the U.S.  The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project said the workers were subcontracted by Patriot Building Systems of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and were working on Newport Crossing, an affordable housing project overseen by the nonprofit RuralEdge. Patrick Shattuck, executive director of RuralEdge, confirmed to that the workers were involved in framing work at the site and said he had been assured by the subcontractor that the employees were legally authorized to work. “These jobs are highly regulated,” Shattuck said. “Every employee is verified.” Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, said the detained individuals were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and transported to the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. She said the group included individuals who had their work documentation with them and that some could be released as early as Friday. ICE reportedly did not respond to a request for comment from multiple Vermont media outlets.