Advocacy group demands reform after LGBTQ Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria subjected to hours-long interrogation
Delray Beach, FL — Truth Wins Out issued a scathing condemnation today of the Trump administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the egregious mistreatment of Winooski School Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, a U.S. citizen, and his partner upon their return from a lawful trip to Nicaragua. Chavarria was detained, interrogated for over five hours, and subjected to a series of inhumane actions that flagrantly violated his constitutional rights.
“This is a grotesque abuse of federal power that preys on fear and prejudice,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Superintendent Chavarria did nothing more than travel with his partner to visit family—and yet the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ policies transformed a routine trip into a nightmare.”
On Monday, July 21, Superintendent Chavarria attempted to re-enter the United States via Global Entry at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston—a program he had utilized multiple times without incident. Instead of expedited clearance, he was pulled aside by CBP agents, separated from his partner of 15 years, and taken to a secure interrogation facility. Over the next five hours, officers seized both his phone and computer, denied him access to legal counsel or any requested contacts, and repeatedly refused to provide any justification for the detention.
During the prolonged interrogation, CBP officers went so far as to claim that “a U.S. citizen has no constitutional rights at a point of entry,” a statement both legally and morally indefensible. Agents cast doubt on Chavarria’s professional credentials—questioning his role as a school superintendent despite his documented leadership of Vermont’s most diverse district since July 2023—and insinuated that his relationship was somehow illegitimate. At one point, four officers questioned him simultaneously in separate rooms, an experience Chavarria described as “nothing short of surreal and the definition of psychological terror”.
After finally being released and reunited with his husband, Chavarria received an abrupt email notifying him that his Global Entry privileges had been revoked. No explanation was offered, nor was any appeal process communicated—further evidence of CBP’s arbitrary and opaque practices. Such actions not only undermine traveler confidence in federal programs but also signal a dangerous willingness to target LGBTQ families under the guise of national security.
Wilmer Chavarria’s personal journey exemplifies the American dream. Born in a Honduran refugee camp and raised in Nicaragua, he became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and earned two master’s degrees—including one from Harvard University—before returning to Vermont. Since July 2023, he has served as superintendent of the Winooski School District, tirelessly championing educational equity and inclusion in one of the nation’s most diverse communities. His record stands in stark contrast to the baseless suspicion and hostility he faced at the hands of CBP.
Truth Wins Out further condemns the broader political context that enabled this violation. Under the Trump administration, CBP has increasingly adopted a zero-tolerance stance at the border—implementing practices that disproportionately impact immigrants, people of color, and LGBTQ travelers. The arbitrary revocation of trusted traveler privileges, denial of legal counsel, and refusal to acknowledge constitutional protections reflect a systemic attempt to intimidate and marginalize vulnerable communities.
In response, Truth Wins Out demands immediate action:
- A full, independent investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division into the unlawful detention and interrogation of Superintendent Chavarria and any similar incidents.
- Immediate reinstatement of Chavarria’s Global Entry status, with CBP required to provide clear, documented reasons for any future revocations and a transparent appeals process for travelers.
- Legislative safeguards to enshrine constitutional rights at all ports of entry, ensuring that U.S. citizens cannot be denied counsel, privacy, or due process under any circumstances.
- Congressional hearings on CBP’s policies and practices, with testimony from affected LGBTQ and immigrant families, to inform comprehensive border reform.
“We cannot allow CBP to operate as judge, jury, and jailer—especially when their actions are motivated by bias and political ideology,” Besen added. “Truth Wins Out will not rest until every LGBTQ American can cross the border with the certainty that their rights will be upheld, not trampled.”
Truth Wins Out stands in unwavering solidarity with Superintendent Chavarria, his husband Cyrus Dudgeon, and all those whose dignity has been assaulted by CBP’s coercive tactics. We call on educators, faith leaders, civil rights organizations, and concerned citizens across America to join us in demanding accountability and systemic change.
About Truth Wins Out
Truth Wins Out is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to advance liberty and democracy, protect the rights of LGBTQ people and other minorities, combat religious extremism, and fight against the spread of disinformation.
Media Contact:
Wayne Besen, Executive Director
wbesen@truthwinsout.org