Vermont Superintendent Detained Hours by U.S. Customs in Houston

Wilmer Chavarria, superintendent of Vermont's Winooski School District and a naturalized U.S. citizen, was detained and subjected to hours of intense interrogation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport while returning from Nicaragua. Despite being enrolled in the Global Entry program, Chavarria was separated from his husband and interrogated in multiple rooms, during which agents denied him constitutional rights, demanded device passcodes, and confiscated his school-issued phone and laptop containing sensitive student data. He reported homophobic remarks, threats, and denial of legal counsel during the ordeal, describing it as psychological terror and suggesting it was politically motivated due to his advocacy for vulnerable communities and his visible leadership role. Chavarria’s experience has drawn condemnation from Vermont officials, including Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, who called the treatment unconscionable and a reminder of the current administration’s approach to due process. The incident highlights ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and civil rights, especially for naturalized citizens and minority leaders. Customs and Border Protection has not publicly commented on the case.