How Burlington Handles Immigration Policy: A Practical Guide

Every city handles immigration policy a little differently. In Burlington, Vermont, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

E-Verify Mandates

Vermont does not require private employers to use the federal E-Verify employment verification system, and Burlington has no separate municipal mandate. E-Verify use is voluntary except for some federal contractors and grant recipients.

Key details: E-Verify mandate: None statewide. Burlington mandate: None. Form I-9: Federally required. Federal contractors: FAR clause applies.

Form I-9 violations are enforced by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations with civil fines per worker. Vermont Attorney General does not separately enforce E-Verify rules absent fraud.

The rules around e-verify mandates in Burlington lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Sanctuary Policy Preemption

Burlington's 2017 Sanctuary City Resolution and Fair and Impartial Policing Policy direct Burlington Police not to enforce federal civil immigration law or detain residents based solely on ICE detainer requests without a judicial warrant.

Key details: Adopted: 2017 resolution. Policy: Fair Impartial Policing. ICE detainers: Warrant required. Status inquiries: Prohibited generally.

Officers violating the policy face internal discipline. The city does not impose criminal penalties on residents based on immigration status and limits cooperation with ICE civil enforcement absent judicial process.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Burlington gives residents more flexibility on sanctuary policy preemption.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Burlington gives residents more room on immigration policy. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Burlington's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.