Vermont Asylum Assistance Project
Coverage of Vermont Asylum Assistance Project in the Nexus archive.
- End of immigration program forces difficult choices for Vermont residents
A federal immigration program allowing over 200 Vermont residents to live and work in the state ends, forcing individuals to choose between remaining in the U.S. illegally or returning to countries with violent conditions. The U.S. Supreme Court terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, impacting 350,000 people nationwide, many of whom now seek alternative immigration protections or face deportation risks.
- Vermont Conversation: ‘I’m sorry that this isn’t what we promised.’ Immigration attorney Jill Martin Diaz on fear and hope in Vermont’s immigrant community
Immigration attorney Jill Martin Diaz discusses the impact of President Trump’s immigration policies on Vermont’s immigrant community, including increased ICE detentions and a Supreme Court decision allowing the end of temporary protected status. The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) provides legal support amid rising fears of deportation.
- US Supreme Court ruling on deportation protections leaves Vermont Haitians out of work and scrambling for options
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, affecting over 350,000 people nationwide and leaving dozens of Haitians in Vermont without work or clear immigration options. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark opposed the decision, arguing it disregards unsafe conditions in Haiti and disrupts economic contributions by TPS recipients.
- Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund surpasses its $1 million goal year after founding
The Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund exceeded its $1 million fundraising goal a year after its launch, enabling the state to expand immigration legal defense resources from two to eight lawyers. The fund, supported by donations from Vermonters and across 30 states, has strengthened organizations like the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, which doubled its asylum seeker caseload and secured legal protections for detained individuals.