U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on Monday arrested eight migrant workers at Pleasant Valley Farms, a dairy in Berkshire, according to state and federal officials.
Border agents were responding to a call from a concerned citizen who had observed “two individuals carrying backpacks exiting a wooded area and crossing … into private farmland,” according to Ryan Brisette, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Agents apprehended one of the individuals on scene, while the second fled,” Brisette said in a written statement. “During the ensuing search of the area, agents located and apprehended additional individuals determined to be illegally present in the United States.”
In a Tuesday press release following the incident, Migrant Justice, a nonprofit advocacy group, said all eight of the people apprehended were farm workers at Pleasant Valley Farms, and that the arrests had occurred on the farm property.
“What happened last night was an injustice,” said Cristian Santos, a member of Migrant Justice’s Farmworker coordinating committee. “Dairy workers were arrested by Border Patrol in their own homes, a violation of their human rights. We work hard to support the economy of this state, working long hours for low wages, doing work that U.S. citizens don’t want to do.”
Will Lambek, a spokesperson for Migrant Justice, said in an interview that “most of the workers were detained in their homes on farm property.”
In a written statement to VTDigger, Amanda St. Pierre, co-owner of the dairy, confirmed that the incident had taken place but said she “did not know the details or reasons at this time.”
“We have fully cooperated with (CBP’s) instructions. Our employees were hired following the federal and state employment requirements,” St. Pierre said. “We remain supportive of our employees and appreciative of the valuable role they play in our community performing essential work on our farm. We hope this matter is resolved quickly.”
According to Lambek, one of the workers is currently in asylum proceedings, a process he had already initiated prior to his arrest. The immigration statuses of the other individuals are unclear.
Located just south of the Canadian border, Pleasant Valley Farms is Vermont’s largest dairy farm. The incident represents the largest immigration enforcement action against migrant workers in Vermont in recent memory.
“I have long been clear: migrant workers are an essential part of our communities,” Gov. Phil Scott said in a Tuesday press release following the incident. “They are our neighbors and friends, have kids in our schools, shop at our businesses, and play an important role in our economy and workforce.”
That statement was echoed by Anson Tebetts, secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, in an interview.
“I think it’s important for Vermonters to understand that, migrant workers, they do play essential roles at dairy farms and farms across Vermont — and not only Vermont but across the country,” Tebetts said.
