Help Our Neighbors Detained by ICE Continue Their Fight for Freedom

On Friday, August 7, five members of our community who live in Manchester were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Londonderry, Vermont, while traveling to work.

In the hours and days that followed, our community responded with extraordinary urgency and compassion.

Today, because of that response, all five men have legal representation — and their cases are moving forward.

Your Support Put Attorneys to Work

Our initial hope was to locate pro bono legal representation. But the demand for immigration legal services is tremendous, and it quickly became clear that waiting could mean losing critical time while the futures of these five men remained uncertain.

The incredible response to this fundraiser gave us another option: we could act immediately.

Working with Will Lambek of Migrant Justice, we connected with the Boston immigration law firm Cameron Micheroni & Silvia, which began working on these cases without requiring an upfront retainer.

Northshire Community Coalition has now made an initial $5,000 payment directly to the law firm from funds raised through this campaign to support the continuing legal work.

That means your donations aren't simply being held for a future need.

They are putting qualified legal representation to work right now.

The Cases Are Moving Forward

There have already been important developments.

Federal judges have issued temporary restraining orders preventing ICE from transferring the five men while their attorneys work to move their cases forward. Attorneys are now beginning the process of seeking bond hearings and pursuing the legal avenues available to each individual.

These developments are encouraging, but they also mean the legal work — and the expenses associated with it — are continuing.

Additional payments to the attorneys will be necessary as proceedings advance. Funds raised through this campaign will continue to support that representation and other appropriate legal expenses associated with these cases.

Our Community Has Shown Up

When word of these detentions reached our community, people mobilized almost immediately.

Neighbors, community organizations, advocates and elected officials began making calls, locating resources, checking on those affected, and determining what could be done.

That response has continued.

Hundreds of people have donated and shared this fundraiser. Community members have offered their time, expertise and connections. People who had never met these five men have stepped forward simply because they believe no one in our community should have to face a complicated legal system alone.

This is what it means to show up for our neighbors.

Why We Still Need Your Help

Legal representation is no longer something we are hoping to secure.

It is happening. Now we need to make sure it can continue.

Your donation can help cover:

Whatever a person's immigration status, everyone deserves due process, access to counsel, and the opportunity to be heard.

These five men are not strangers.

They are our neighbors. They live here. They work here. They are part of our community.

There is still a long road ahead, and we do not know exactly where each case will lead. But because this community stepped forward, they are not navigating that road without advocates fighting for them.

Please continue to give what you can and share this fundraiser.

Five of our neighbors were taken into custody. Together, we are making sure they do not face what comes next alone.

With gratitude,

Northshire Community Coalition

Freedom Team

Fundraiser Disclaimer:

Northshire Community Coalition is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of the individuals detained in connection with the August 7 ICE action in Londonderry, Vermont. Northshire Community Coalition is not acting as legal counsel and does not make decisions regarding the individuals' legal cases or immigration proceedings.

Funds raised through this campaign will be used to support legal representation and related legal expenses for those affected. Whenever practicable, funds may be paid directly to attorneys, legal service providers, or other organizations providing assistance on their behalf.

If circumstances change, legal expenses are fully met, or funds remain after the immediate needs of those detained have been addressed, Northshire Community Coalition will provide an update to donors explaining how any remaining funds will be handled.