BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington’s police chief defended his officers’ role in a recent ICE enforcement action that drew sharp criticism from residents and City Council members Monday night.Interim Police Chief Shawn Burke said he dispatched his department to South Burlington on March 11 after a mutual aid request from their chief. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted an operation that day to detain a man who had illegally re-entered the United States. It resulted in a large protest, a clash between protesters and law enforcement, and the use of chemical agents and flash bangs against demonstrators.“Our team assisted with the crowd management and used physical force, example being physical pushing and some level of OC spray to help stop the active resistance that the ICE agent was facing... Given national events, we have seen what federal agents are capable of when left alone with demonstrators intervening with their operations,” said Burke.Burke said he believes fair and impartial policing policy was followed and that all use of force is currently under internal review. Results are expected within 30 days.The City Council went into executive session at 5:45 p.m. Monday to discuss Burlington police participation in the ICE enforcement action, then heard public comment from more than 60 speakers. Some councilors echoed the concerns of protesters.“As I see it, as police officers, your duty is to Burlington residents and to the United States Constitution,” said Councilor Becca Brown McKnight, D-Ward 6.Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, P-Burlington, struck a measured tone.“There are real limits to local control in these situations, but that does not lessen our responsibility to examine our own actions, to be transparent and to make improvements,” she said.Not all residents were critical of the department. Those who defended the police were jeered by the crowd.“If state and local police hadn’t been there, what would’ve happened? Would ICE have backed down? I don’t think so,” said Burlington resident Dave Mar.But many speakers were sharply critical, including one woman who spoke to WCAX News through an interpreter before the meeting.“There were many abuses. Despite the fact that they’re trying to cover up the truth, claiming that they were there to protect public safety, when you look at the documentary evidence, when you look at what actually happened, they weren’t there defending us at all,” said Olga, who did not give a last name.“[They] should be immediately fired, along with all the other police officers that brutalized our community,” said Burlington resident Dee Graham.“Instead of running ICE out, they did the reasonable thing and beat us so ICE couldn’t kill us,” said Burlington resident Amina Carrington.Ahead of the meeting, protesters angry about immigration enforcement rallied outside Burlington City Hall. Organizers said they wanted to share stories of what they believe is excessive use of force and violations of fair and impartial policing.South Burlington city councilors overwhelmingly supported their police department’s actions before the results of any investigation last Monday. Burlington city councilors were more skeptical.A special meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at Contois Auditorium to further discuss Burlington’s police department and its role in the March 11 enforcement action.Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.