ICE Detains Workers at Newport Housing Site Despite Legal Work Claims

NEWPORT — 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 Vermont Public 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. The incident follows a string of recent detentions involving migrant workers in Vermont.