Vt. trooper in video correct to detain immigrants

Detaining two farm workers as suspected illegal immigrants was without bias, a group found

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Brattleboro Reformer

MONTPELIER, Vt. — An advisory group has found that a Vermont state trooper acted properly and without bias when he made a traffic stop and questioned and detained two farm workers as suspected illegal immigrants.

The Sept. 13 stop in Middlesex and a subsequent protest prompted Gov. Peter Shumlin to ask whether Vermont State Police followed "bias-free" policing policies in the stop.

The State Police Advisory Commission said Wednesday that Trooper Jared Hatch had probable cause to stop the vehicle for speeding on Interstate 89 and acted according to his training in questioning the vehicle's occupants when they seemed excessively nervous, gave inconsistent answers, and failed to make eye contact.

The commission said Hatch followed policy in asking the passengers about their immigration status and reporting that information to the U.S. Border Patrol.

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