On Tuesday, April 29th, the Vermont Senate voted on a resolution about the apprehension and detention of Mohsen Mahdawi. The resolution, S.R. 13, advocated that Mr. Mahdawi, a resident of White River Junction, Vermont, who has been a legal permanent resident of the United States for the past decade, “be afforded due process under the law.”

Regardless of his specific immigration status, Mr. Mahdawi, and any person for that matter, is afforded due process protections by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. While certain Constitutional rights and protections may be under attack at the national level, it is reassuring to see the Vermont Senate affirm this protection, passing S.R. 13. Our own Senator Ruth Hardy joined Democratic and Republican colleagues in sponsoring this resolution, standing up for the Constitution.

However, the vote was not unanimous. Our other senator, Steve Heffernan, was one of only five senators to oppose this resolution. Protecting our Constitutional rights should not be a controversial or partisan issue; six of Heffernan’s Republican caucus members sponsored this resolution.

We need Senator Heffernan to stand up for the rights and protections of the Constitution.

Bastiaan Phair

Cornwall