15-05-2025
One Vermont farmworker ordered to be released, may return to Vt. 'in the coming days'
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – One of the three detained farmworkers expected to appear for hearings today has been ordered to be released, according to nonprofit organization Migrant Justice.
An immigration judge in Massachusetts heard the case of Diblaim Maximo Sargento-Morales, and set his bond to the lowest possible amount of $1,500. Migrant Justice claims that he 'will likely be released and return to Vermont in the coming days.'
A separate judge reportedly declined to hear bond release motions for Arbey Lopez-Lopez and Jose Edilberto Molina-Aguilar. It was ruled Thursday that Molina-Aguilar's hearing should be in Texas, but legal council objected.
Both Sargento-Morales and Molina-Aguilar were among the eight people detained at Pleasant Valley Farms in Berkshire, last month.
Lopez-Lopez, who was detained April 9 separately from the Pleasant Valley farmworkers, will now have his case heard Monday.
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Migrant Justice Spokesperson Rossy Alfaro voiced concerns about both postponed hearings, which they say 'will only cause more harm to José and Arbey, and their community' in-state.
'We're excited to see Max back home very soon. At the same time, we are disappointed in the judge's decision to postpone the other two hearings… We remain hopeful that all the detained members of our community will soon be freed.'
Migrant Justice also revealed that a fourth individual detained in Franklin County has been sent to Mexico. His name is Juan Javier Rodriguez-Gomez. ABC22/FOX44 previously reported that three people, all detained from Berkshire, had been deported.
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