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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

VPR Reporter Debrief: Rising Tensions Over Hartford Ordinance

Hartford resident Makale Camara asked members of the selectboard to restrict all communication between local police and federal immigration authorities.
Peter Hirschfeld
/
VPR FILE
Hartford resident Makale Camara asked members of the selectboard to restrict all communication between local police and federal immigration authorities.

The town of Hartford has been grappling with its official stance on what it means to be a welcoming city. VPR reporter Peter Hirschfeld joined Vermont Edition to detail some of the events that have recently transpired in the Upper Valley related to protests around the country's immigration policies. 

A so-called "Welcoming City Ordinance" represents Hartford’s attempt to protect undocumented immigrants from getting arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection agents. It tries to accomplish that task by restricting certain communication between local police officers and federal immigration authorities.

Adding to the tensions in the town, ICE agents recently detained 18 people without any immigration documentation in Hartford and in Lebanon, New Hampshire. This led to protests in the streets of White River Junction, ending in the arrest of 26 of the protestors.

Listen to the full interview above to hear more on the proposed city ordinances and how residents are responding to the arrests.

Broadcast Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Ric was a producer for Vermont Edition and host of the VPR Cafe.
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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