Attorneys and volunteers with the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project used to go into Vermont’s prisons and meet with every immigration detainee, using their phones and computers for language interpretation, according to Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the organization.

But they say that access changed this fall after Jon Murad took over as interim commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections. Since then, attorneys with the organization said the department has made it harder to meet and work with their clients, citing language barriers and lack of meeting space.

Murad denies those claims and says he has merely enforced policies that predate his time as commissioner, cutting off practices that shouldn’t have been allowed under his predecessor.

Federal immigration authorities use Vermont prisons to hold often more than a dozen immigration detainees at a time per a contract agreement with the federal government. Though detainees can be held in any Vermont prison, they’re most commonly brought to two facilities: Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington and Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town.

As President Donald Trump has ramped up his mass deportation campaign, federal immigration authorities often swiftly shuffle people they detain around the country. And the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project has been the main organization routinely providing legal services to all immigration detainees in Vermont.

“I think it’s really important to capitalize on this opportunity that Vermont can be where we disrupt this arrest-to-deportation pipeline that is happening across this country,” said Hillary Rich, an attorney at the Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The issue has raised the eyebrows of legislators focused on the state’s prison system and prompted them to write the Corrections Department a memo directing its officials to develop a memorandum of understanding with the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project to guarantee cooperation between the organization and the department.

Attorneys raise alarms

To Martin Diaz, the Corrections Department’s current treatment of VAAP attorneys is a stark contrast to the department’s previous stance.

In July, under former Commissioner Nick Deml, the department agreed to let VAAP lawyers have a designated biweekly meeting time and place within the two state prisons where the majority of immigration detainees are held, according to Martin Diaz. Deml did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Some immigrant activist groups, like Migrant Justice, connect people in their community to legal services, but VAAP is the only organization that routinely goes into Vermont prisons to meet with detainees without counsel, according to Martin Diaz.

Over the summer, the department allowed a handful of VAAP attorneys to bring in a team of trained volunteer lawyers, who were able to bring in their phones and computers, Martin Diaz said. And the department would provide in advance each detainee’s alien registration number, which federal immigration authorities use to identify someone.

In a designated room, the group from VAAP would offer legal services to people detained by federal immigration authorities and use their personal devices to provide language interpretation during their meetings, Martin Diaz said.

During that time, VAAP attorneys were able to meet with 100% of clients at each prison, Martin Diaz said.

Then in August, Murad, a former Burlington Police chief, took the helm of the Corrections Department. That’s when VAAP employees said their access to clients and their cooperation with the department took a turn.

Martin Diaz said that in September the department stopped providing the organization’s attorneys with detainees’ alien registration numbers. In their meetings with detainees, attorneys started to hear complaints that they weren’t receiving medical care or communication from prison staff that was translated into their language, they said.

VAAP attorneys got in touch with one man who was held in solitary confinement because he broke a prison rule. But the rules of the prison were never explained to him in his language, Martin Diaz said.

“He was in solitary and he didn’t know why,” Martin Diaz said.

Murad said he was not aware of the case Martin Diaz described.

In late October, attorneys from the organization were suddenly told they couldn’t bring their devices or volunteer paralegals with them inside the prison, according to Martin Diaz. Instead, their lawyers were given one landline they had to share, they said.

“We’re all sharing this one phone line now that’s a landline and the calls drop repeatedly, like it’s poor service,” they said.

Martin Diaz said with limited staff and interpretation resources, VAAP attorneys have only been able to meet with 25% of detainees. “We’re just really concerned about the irreparable harm that could befall our most vulnerable community members,” they said.

Martin Diaz said in some instances, VAAP lawyers and volunteers have been turned away from prisons. Murad said he was unsure of specific instances in which VAAP employees weren’t allowed to enter facilities. But he said it was possible they might be turned away for safety reasons, including medical emergencies or a prison lockdown.

VAAP employees shouldn’t have been allowed to bring in their own devices under the former commissioner— and department policy prohibits the practice, Murad said.

“That’s an example of a place where we were deviating from our own policies in a way that compromised our security,” he said.

The department has made improvements to language access after hearing complaints, Murad said. In January, the department did an internal evaluation of interpretation services in the two prisons where immigration detainees are usually held, he said.

“We found that there were some inconsistencies,” Murad said.

And to address the issue, the department has begun issuing tablets that provide interpretation services, he said, and attorneys can use those tablets regardless of who their client is.

Martin Diaz said that despite department efforts, VAAP employees still encounter clients who lack language access.

On Friday, VAAP attorneys met with a woman who only spoke Haitian Creole, Martin Diaz said. Since being held in Vermont, the woman had not encountered a single person who communicated with her in her language, they said.

Amanda Wheeler, the governor’s press secretary, said Gov. Phil Scott stands by his decision to permanently appoint Murad as commissioner on Feb. 26.

“In his time as interim commissioner and now as commissioner, he’s worked with his team at the various correctional facilities to ensure long standing policies (that predate him) were being followed consistently,” Wheeler said in an email.

“DOC has worked closely with VAAP and as recently as a week ago received positive feedback from the organization about the operational coordination improvements DOC has made and is continuing to make,” Wheeler said.

‘We want to see DOC course correct’

Rich has worked closely with VAAP — and is concerned that immigrants’ rights are being violated. Regardless of immigration status, detainees are entitled to medical care, access to language interpretation and access to counsel, Rich said.

“I think too often there’s this misunderstanding that we’re talking about special treatment when really what we’re talking about is equitable treatment,” she added

Murad said the department was providing equitable treatment by allowing attorneys to access tablets with interpretation services.

In July, with Scott’s support, the state renewed its contract with the federal government to hold immigration detainees in Vermont prisons. Scott said he thought immigration detainees were best served in Vermont compared to elsewhere.

But Rich said she sees a contradiction between the department’s practices and Scott’s past claims.

“We want to see DOC course correct and prove that these contracts weren’t just a capitulation to the Trump administration,” Rich said.

For people fleeing persecution in their home country, it’s crucial to have access to legal counsel, according to Rich. “Having a lawyer can literally be a matter of life or death,” she said.

After hearing from employees at the ACLU and VAAP, the Vermont Human Rights Commission began investigating discrimination in Vermont’s prisons, according to Rich and Martin Diaz. The commission declined to comment on the investigation.

In the Statehouse, lobbyists with both the ACLU and VAAP have urged lawmakers to take action and put pressure on the department to make changes. Martin Diaz said their organization has had to take time away from the work of their attorneys to try to remediate issues with the department.

With bipartisan support, representatives in the House Corrections and Institutions Committee decided to write Murad a memo, obtained by VTDigger, outlining the committee’s concerns and a directive for change.

During meetings at the Statehouse, the committee heard testimony “describing barriers that impede legal access,” according to the memo.

“Given the urgency of access to counsel within the current federal landscape, the Committee finds informal problem-solving insufficient. Formal structure, accountability, and enforceable standards are now required,” the memo reads.

The memo lists the committee’s concerns including cancelled or disrupted legal appointments, inadequate access to translation services and inconsistent implementation of department policy across facilities.

The committee directed the department to write a formal memorandum of understanding with VAAP that would guarantee reliable legal access, translation services, confidential spaces for attorney meetings and uniform implementation across facilities.

Murad said that after the committee sent the memo, its leaders decided to pull it back. “It’s not something that we’re addressing right now,” Murad said.

“We’ve taken it back temporarily,” said Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield, the committee chair.

Lawyers with legislative counsel, who draft bills in the Statehouse, told Emmons that Scott’s administration took issue with the memo, Emmons said, though she didn’t know why.

“I sent an email out to the committee explaining we’re pulling it back. There need to be more conversations as we go forward here,” Emmons said.

___

This story was originally published by VTDigger and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Boston officials are warning that public drinking will not be tolerated at this Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston, as police also urge attendees to be vigilant about drink spiking during one of the city’s busiest nightlife weekends.

The Boston Police Department issued a community alert ahead of the celebration reminding attendees that public drinking, providing alcohol to minors, and open containers in public are illegal.

Police also cautioned attendees about the risks of drink spiking — when drugs such as “roofies” are secretly placed into beverages. These substances are often colorless, odorless, and tasteless and can cause disorientation, confusion, temporary paralysis, or unconsciousness, leaving victims vulnerable, according to the BPD statement. 

Police advised having drinks served directly by a bartender or server and to keep beverages attended at all times. BPD also suggested using drink-testing tools, such as test strips or special nail polish designed to detect drugs, and covering drinks when they are not being actively consumed. 

“Let’s work together to ensure a safe and enjoyable spring break for all,” police said. 

The warnings come as local officials say they are backing stronger enforcement after last year’s parade weekend saw incidents of violence and disorder. 

City Councilor Ed Flynn, U.S. Rep Stephen Lynch, state Sen. Nick Collins, and state Rep. David Biele wrote a joint letter to education leaders across Massachusetts, asking them to notify Boston-area college presidents and high school superintendents about the public safety protocols and potential consequences for students who break the law. 

“As elected officials, we have given our full support to public safety officials to enforce the law and keep the community safe,” they wrote.  

The group said it has spent the past year working with state and local agencies on a task force to address the “unacceptable ‘anything goes’ atmosphere” that developed last year. Issues included public drinking, disturbing incidents of violence, public assaults, people standing on rooftops without roof decks, overcrowded bars, beer cans thrown at parade marchers, and public urination on private property. 

“The Task Force is committed to restoring the Evacuation Day & St. Patrick’s Parade to a family-friendly event — inclusive for our seniors, persons with disabilities, and young children and families — that not only focuses on celebrating a consequential victory during the American Revolution, but to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, military families and first responders, as well as our proud immigrant heritage,” the group wrote.

In addition, the task force said they have developed strategies to address public drinking and underage alcohol smuggling on the MBTA, and Boston Fire Department Commissioner Paul Burke said there will be enforcement over roof deck overcrowding.

The City of Boston Licensing Board told Boston.com that it has reminded establishments about special rules in place for parade day.

Rules that licensees must follow include not serving alcohol before 12 p.m. without express permission, alcohol service must end by 7 p.m., and all patrons must leave licensed premises by 7:30 p.m. 

The spiking problem

Concerns about drink spiking were also discussed during a City Council hearing Thursday led by Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata.

Zapata said dozens of drink-spiking incidents are reported in Boston each year. The city recorded 116 reports in 2022, 107 in 2023, and 71 in 2024.

While the numbers have declined, experts believe many cases go unreported, she said.

Flynn said he has been meeting with Boston police monthly to discuss the issue and safety planning ahead of the parade.

The hearing also included testimony from residents, including one woman who said she was drugged in late 2022 at age 56 and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.

She said she was denied a toxicology screen because she had not been sexually assaulted.

“I’m grateful I wasn’t, but a victim should not have to experience the worst-case scenario to receive basic medical evidence collection,” she said.

Wu administration officials and Boston police testifying at the hearing said a number of steps have been taken to try to prevent drink spiking, including distributing thousands of drink covers to bars and restaurants so patrons can protect their beverages. 

But the woman who testified said she had never encountered the covers.

“Where are they? I live in Boston, go out often, and have never seen one,” she said. 

“Any one of you could be drugged today, via a glass of water, coffee, wine. Your teenage daughter, your son, your mother, your father — nobody’s immune,” she added. 

Councilor Erin Murphy questioned whether the approach is effective, saying she has never seen people using the drink covers and that they could imply victims are responsible for preventing their drinks from being tampered with.

Boston Police Capt. Det. Terry Thomas said bars and restaurants are encouraged to remake drinks for anyone who suspects their beverage may have been spiked.

Zapata said the concerts are particularly relevant heading into St. Patrick’s Day celebrations — “one of the busiest weekends for nightlife” in Boston.

“We know Boston is safe, but we also know that drink spiking has been a concern in the city over the last several years,” Zapata said. “Public safety means making sure people can enjoy [themselves] without worrying that their drink could be tampered with.”

In 2010, at age 19, Sony Ton-Aime was introduced to English. Born in Haiti, he’d grown up speaking Haitian Creole at home and French at school. Now he was enrolled at Kent State University, where he’d spend a semester in the English as a Second Language program.

Sixteen years later, it’s safe to say Ton-Aime is up to speed as far as English goes. He’s well into his third year as executive director of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, the region’s premiere showcase for visiting authors. And he’s just published his first book of poetry, “Konbit,” as part of the Carnegie Mellon University Press Poetry Series.

‘Your time has come’

The 93-page collection evokes the Haitian Revolution of 1791 and its contemporary echoes. Its theme is reflected in its title: “Konbit,” said Ton-Aime, is a Haitian Creole word for any project that requires the collective to achieve, whether that’s bringing in the harvest, staging a wedding, or pulling a car out of a ditch.

Many of the nearly 60 poems invoke the Bois Caiman ceremony, a religious gathering in August 1791 attended mostly by enslaved Blacks at which they resolved to overthrow French colonizers. Ton-Aime draws on both the historical record and the folklore surrounding the event to depict leaders like Dutty Boukman and Cecile Fatiman.

“Fatiman Contemplates the Knife on the Eve of the Bois Caiman Ceremony” begins, “blood-tinted blade / rusted yet never dull / prayer in waiting / always out of reach / you so many times have failed / you for far too long / have been hidden / your time has come …”

Poems in the latter portions of the book depict the Haiti of the 1990s and thereafter, when Ton-Aime grew up and came of age. Verses like “In the ’80s the U.S. Destroyed Haiti’s Rice Culture” (“a country / on its knees with promise of a full belly”) and “1994” collapse the history into a contemporary world of earthquakes, automobiles, HIV, corrupt aid workers and the effects of climate change.

But there is also joy, typically experienced in community. In the book’s title poem, Ton-Aime writes, “The children fill the holes with handfuls of corn. It is life. Men dig holes, children occupy them, and women mend the world.”

The book is replete with mothers and mother figures, a theme Ton-Aime said honors his own mother but also Haiti as “a nurturing place” and the women who looked after him as a child when his mother went off to sell secondhand clothes in the market. “She left me with the folks in the village, the women in the village,” he said. “And so many of them really took care of me and I came to see them as really mothers, in a way.”

In highlighting figures like Boukman, Fatiman and the unsung mothers of Haiti, Ton-Aime also seeks to emphasize the resourcefulness and creativity of marginalized people. He said their example can be a powerful one in troubled times.

“We have faced existential threats as well in the past, and I wanted this collection to be a way to connect them and for folks to feel a sense of optimism that our ancestors, our forefathers and foremothers, survived this,” he said. “And we can as well survive them.”

‘I can tell my own stories’

As a child, Ton-Aime loved reading and writing. At Kent State, in a practical move, he studied accounting and worked in that field back home. But the love of poetry he found in Kent State’s writing community brought him back to earn a master’s degree in poetry through the Northeast Ohio MFA Program.

A new career in arts administration led him first to the Cleveland-based nonprofit Lake Erie Ink, and then, in 2020, to New York’s famed Chautauqua Institute, where he became director of literary arts.

But even at PAL, as he was hosting authors like Zadie Smith, Percival Everett and Elizabeth Gilbert, he continued working on poetry. He especially credited as an inspiration the work of Jamaican-born American poet Shara McCallum.

“I was like, ‘Oh, I do not need to be an American to write poetry in [the] United States. I can keep my own authentic voice. I can tell my own stories that will relate to folks, right? And Shara McCallum was really the first person that gave me this permission to be my authentic self.”

Ton-Aime’s other literary projects include the Haitian Creole translation of “Olympic Hero: The Lennox Kilgour Story” and co-authoring the Haitian Creole course on Duolingo.

McCallum, who is a Penn State professor, and poet Joy Priest, who teaches in the University of Pittsburgh’s master of fine arts program, will join Ton-Aime at the “Konbit” book launch on Sun., March 15. The event, at Alphabet City, on the North Side, is free, but registration is recommended.