I find it interesting to see Senator Steven Heffernan finally writing to his constituents about the end of the legislative session (Addison Independent, July 10, 2025). I am sure I am not alone in noticing the almost complete absence of news and information from him during the legislative session about what issues he was excited about and working on. His broad end-of-the-year summary still doesn’t tell us much about what he did.

One thing Senator Heffernan did not tell us about in his article was his no vote on a Senate Resolution condemning the “manner and circumstances” of Moshen Mandawi’s arrest in Burlington by immigration police in April. A lot has happened since April, but many may remember that Mandawi had been a resident of the United States for 10 years. He had a green card and was legally here working and on a path toward obtaining his U.S. citizenship. He arrived at a scheduled appointment at the Immigration Office in Colchester expecting to finally take the oath and swear allegiance to the United States. He did, and then ICE police came into the room and arrested him. The bipartisan Resolution in the Vermont Senate condemned the “manner and circumstances” of how the arrest was carried out.

Senate Resolution 13 had widespread support in the Vermont Senate — all 17 Democrats and eight Republicans voted in favor of the Resolution. Senator Heffernan was one of only five Republicans who voted against it. A few months ago, I sent him an email inquiring as to why he broke from the majority of his own party on this Resolution. When I did not get a reply, I published my letter on Vergennes Front Porch Forum and again asked him, this time publicly, to explain his vote. To date, I am aware of no public explanation from Senator Heffernan for his no vote on Senate Resolution 13.

Senator Heffernan’s constituents are entitled to know how and why he votes the way he does on important issues. After my post in Front Porch Forum, others joined in the request for an explanation. So, Senator, I ask again, on behalf of your constituents, why did you vote against Senate Resolution 13 condemning the manner and circumstances of the arrest and detention of Moshen Mandawi?

James Dunn

Vergennes