By Kolby LaMarche

A federal judge in Burlington has refused to free a Honduran father swept up in last week’s chaotic South Burlington ICE raid, ordering instead a quick bond hearing amid growing fears that federal agents are ramping up enforcement across Vermont.

Christian Humberto Jerez Andrade, 31, sat in a packed federal courtroom Tuesday as U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III weighed his release. 

Dozens of supporters lined the steps outside the Federal Building, signs in hand, chanting for his – and others – freedom after days of vigils and a viral GoFundMe that has pulled in more than $25,000 for the family.

Jerez Andrade has been locked up at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans since March 11, when ICE agents stormed a home at 337 Dorset Street seeking a Mexican national wanted for illegal reentry. 

The target wasn’t there. Instead, agents detained Jerez Andrade and two Ecuadorian sisters, Jisella Johana Patin Patin, 31, and Daysi Camila Patin Patin, 20. Johana Patin Patin won bail Monday and walked free; her sister awaits her own hearing.

Inside the courtroom, Jerez Andrade testified under oath. He told the judge he fled Honduras more than a decade ago after political violence and military service, arriving in the U.S. as an undocumented father who has never applied for asylum. 

He recounted a 2020 guilty plea in Louisiana to domestic abuse and child endangerment charges stemming from a verbal argument with his partner—he served 30 days after his lawyer urged the plea to avoid dragging out court dates. 

Prosecutors pointed to a 2022 intimidation/stalking charge and a Florida traffic violation, hinting at a possible outstanding warrant that never materialized in evidence.

His attorneys then argued the detention violated his rights: he wasn’t named in the warrant, and the raid turned violent with tear gas and pepper spray deployed against protesters blocking the door. Emergency court orders have blocked any transfer out of Vermont, buying time for review.

Sessions acknowledged the murkiness. 

Too many loose ends on the record made immediate release unsafe, he ruled. He directed an immigration court bond hearing within five business days. If denied there, Jerez Andrade returns to Burlington federal court to probe whether the raid itself crossed constitutional lines.

His 18-year-old nephew, José Jerez—a U.S. citizen who was inside during the siege—has led the public pushback. In the bilingual GoFundMe “Support the Jerez Family after Violent ICE Raid,” José recounted agents bursting in, guns drawn, throwing family members to the floor, seizing phones and IDs. 

The family faces mounting legal bills, lost wages, and basics while fighting deportation. José, who arrived in Vermont five months ago after a friend was killed in New Orleans gun violence, calls his uncle his anchor here. Donations continue to climb toward a $30,000 goal.

The raid has left the community on edge, with residents and officials bracing for more ICE operations in Burlington and beyond. 

City leaders note ICE has been active locally in recent months, though no formal heads-up comes when activity spikes. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak signed an executive order in February laying out protocols for any surge: limits on Burlington police aiding civil immigration enforcement, employee training, and resident resources. 

At the time, she said no escalation loomed in Burlington, but preparation was key to safeguarding trust and safety amid national shifts.

In South Burlington, the City Council weighed future risks at its post-raid meeting. City Manager Jessie Baker stressed better readiness, while a councilor floated a task force for community response if agents return. Local police chiefs have signaled earlier talks about expecting heightened federal enforcement under the current administration. Departments insist they don’t assist ICE civilly but were forced to prioritize safety during the standoff.

Governor Phil Scott has blasted ICE tactics as outdated and dangerous. Chittenden County State’s Attorney and migrant advocates demand full accountability.

Jerez Andrade’s Boston immigration case presses on, with the bond hearing imminent. Supporters vow to keep showing up, insisting Vermont ties and fair process must prevail—even as whispers of broader ICE buildup keep nerves raw.