State of Vermont Archives: on Immigration
David Zuckerman:
Immigrants & refugees welcome in Vermont
Vermont has welcomed immigrants since before we were a state. In 1989, Vermont joined a federal refugee resettlement program and since then more than 7,000 men, women, and children have resettled here and now call Vermont home. New Americans can help us
address our shortage of workers, but they are also creative entrepreneurs who can start new businesses in our state. We will examine barriers for new Americans and work with them to ensure they have access to the tools and support they need.
Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website ZuckermanForVT.com
Apr 3, 2020
Eddie Melton:
Stopped sharing info with immigration authorities in 2017
The Vermont governor's office says the state's Department of Motor Vehicles stopped sharing facial recognition information with federal immigration authorities more than two years ago. A spokeswoman for Republican Gov.
Phil Scott said the state stopped sharing the information in May 2017, after Scott, who took office earlier that year, was made aware of it.
Source: NBC-5 coverage of 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Jul 8, 2019
Gerald Malloy:
Put up the wall, enforce the law, stop criminals
Illegal Immigration. Put up the wall. Enforce the law, stop criminals and Fentanyl from China coming into the US.
10,000 lbs. of Fentanyl seized last year--enough to kill 2 Billion people.
Source: 2022 Vermont Senate campaign website DeployMalloy.com
Aug 16, 2022
Keith Stern:
Supports Trump's crack down on undocumented immigrants
In the first debate in his bid for re-election, Gov. Scott stepped into a community TV studio with his sole challenger in the upcoming Republican primary, Keith Stern. The two candidates diverged on their approach to immigration. While Stern supports
President Donald Trump's recent efforts to crack down on undocumented immigrants, Scott said he supports legal immigration and the cities and towns in Vermont that want to take in more refugees. "We need more people in Vermont," he said.
Source: VTDigger.org on 2018 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Jul 25, 2018
Lawrence Zupan:
Stronger immigration controls; enforcement essential
When discussing border security, Zupan attempts to illustrate his view by equating border security with individuals locking their doors when they go home at night. He said enforcing the border is an essential activity of any sovereign nation,
and that means strengthening, not eliminating, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "Eliminating ICE is a precursor to eliminating the borders," he said. "Without borders, this is not even a country."
Source: True North Reports on 2018 Vermont Senate race
Aug 10, 2018
Scott Milne:
Opposed to the EB-5 program due to poor regulation in VT
In October 2009, Milne traveled to China and South Korea with then-governor Jim Douglas, Stenger and other Vermont business leaders to meet with potential EB-5 investors. At the time, Milne was considering raising money through the program for his
proposed Quechee Highlands development project, which has been stalled for years by land-use regulators. Milne returned sounding enthusiastic about EB-5, though he ultimately opted against taking part in the program. "To me, it is the perfect storm of
government policy capturing the best of entrepreneurial spirit," he told the Valley News a week after returning from Asia. Milne's tune has since changed. He said that federal officials who established EB-5 had been "naive" and "showed a lack of
'business 101" because they failed to "audit money coming in and out" of approved projects. Asked to explain his evolving position, Milne claimed that Vermont's regulation of EB-5 projects had been stronger back in 2009 when he traveled to China & Korea
Source: SevenDaysVT.com on 2016 Vermont Senate race
May 9, 2016
Scott Milne:
No immigrant benefits; no DREAMers; no amnesty
Q: Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare? Scott Milne: No
Q: Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
Scott Milne: No
Q: Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
Scott Milne: No
Source: iSideWith.com Voter Guide on 2016 Vermont Senate race
Sep 9, 2016
Phil Scott:
Moral obligation to be welcoming of people around the globe
I have always believed that the United States, and Vermont, have a moral obligation to be welcoming of people around the globe seeking a better life and new opportunities.Once we welcome new Vermonters to our communities,
it's critical that they are supported and welcomed with open arms.
The opening of the new office for the Vermont Afghan Alliance is a critical step towards creating a sense of community and a place to come together.
Source: Facebook posting on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Dec 21, 2023
Peter Duval:
Would support noncitizens voting in state & local elections
Q: What about electoral reforms? Duval: I would look at making sure that we're changing the constitution if necessary, so that all over the state residents can vote. And that would be an empowering thing to do. And it would be a universal thing to do.
Q: Very briefly, it sounds to me like you're saying you would support noncitizens being able to vote in local elections.
Duval: Yes, and if it is possible, statewide elections.
Source: Vermont Public Radio on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial debate
Jul 25, 2024
Phil Scott:
Vermont has no law or policy making it a sanctuary state
AG Pamela Bondi sent Scott's office a letter saying Vermont has been identified as engaging in sanctuary policies "that thwart federal immigration enforcement." In a letter back, Governor Scott said he believes
Vermont's designation as a so-called sanctuary jurisdiction "has been made in error." That's because he says Vermont has no law or policy that stands in the way of federal immigration law enforcement.
Source: WCAX, "Sanctuary," on 2026 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Aug 19, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026