March 25, 2026

State House Today, VBA Tomorrow!

View this email in your browser Vermont Asylum Assistance Project is a legal services and technical assistance organization that exists to mentor no-cost and low-cost immigration lawyers and legal workers; educate and serve VT immigrants and community members; maximize impact across sectors; and advocate to protect immigrants’ rights. Join us: www.vaapvt.org. Donate to VAAP Want to read this newsletter in Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Dari, or Portuguese? Visit www.vaapvt.org/newsletters and select your language in the top right corner. ¿Desea leer este boletín en español, francés, criollo haitiano, dari o portugués? Visite www.vaapvt.org/newsletters y seleccione su idioma en la esquina superior derecha. Quer ler este boletim em espanhol, francês, crioulo haitiano, dari ou português? Visite www.vaapvt.org/newsletters e selecione seu idioma no canto superior direito. Voulez-vous lire ce bulletin en espagnol, français, créole haïtien, dari ou portugais? Visitez www.vaapvt.org/newsletters et choisissez votre langue en haut à droite. Vle li bilten sa a an panyòl, fransè, kreyòl ayisyen, dari oswa pòtigè? Ale sou www.vaapvt.org/newsletters epi chwazi lang ou anlè adwat. آیا می‌خواهید این خبرنامه را به اسپانیایی، فرانسوی، کریول هایتی، دری یا پرتغالی بخوانید؟ به www.vaapvt.org/newsletters بروید و زبان خود را در گوشهٔ بالا سمت راست انتخاب کنید. FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VAAP and Migrant Justice advocates celebrated after a VT federal judge ordered Jaime's release from illegal ICE detention—our network's fourth Habeas victory this month!  ⚖️ They Came Home!  This week, Jaime, Camila, Cristian, and Johana—four Vermonters who ICE attempted to summarily disappear from our communities—are safe at home. This outcome was not a given. Together, we made this happen—because our community showed up, because advocates were coordinated, and because skilled lawyers were ready to act quickly. When people have lawyers to challenge ICE in court, outcomes change. Families stay together. We’re also marking a historic step forward for lasting legal infrastructure in Vermont. On March 20, for the first time in state history, an appropriation for immigration legal aid passed out of the House Appropriations Committee. Now it moves to the Senate—and we need YOU to keep the pressure on lawmakers as we enter the second half of the legislative session. This is a turning point. Unprecedented public investment creates both an opportunity and a responsibility: for providers to come together, steward these resources collectively, and build the long-overdue infrastructure needed to sustain immigration legal services statewide. That shared approach is how we meet growing demand and protect due process into the future. For the first time, VT is poised to support lasting immigration legal services infrastructure after House Appropriations passed an immigration legal aid appropriation this week. 🏛️ And We Planned Forward! We also made a historic step toward lasting legal infrastructure in Vermont. For the first time in state history, an appropriation for immigration legal aid passed out of the House Appropriations Committee. Again, we made this happen together—advocates coordinated, community showed, and skilled lawyers acted quickly. This is a turning point. Unprecedented public investment creates both an opportunity and a responsibility: for providers to come together, steward these resources collectively, and build the long-overdue infrastructure needed to sustain immigration legal services statewide. That shared approach is how we meet growing demand and protect due process into the future. TOMORROW, 3/26, H.951 moves to the House floor and then onto the Senate—and we need YOU to keep the pressure on lawmakers! Contact your legislators today and urge them to support the immigration attorney included in H.951. Huge thanks to all our legislators already committed to voting in support!  Huge thanks to Vermont Green FC for hosting the immigration legal services network at your #Cupset halftime show on 3/17 and uplifting the call for expanding access to counsel! 🫂 This Is What Collective Action Looks Like! Thank you to Vermont Green FC for uplifting our message at the 3/17 Open Cup, and to our nonprofit partners and state government leaders for showing up TODAY 3/25 for Common Good VT State House Day. Attorneys—we’ll see you Thursday 3/26 at the Vermont Bar Association Midyear Meeting for VAAP's 1.0 MCLE co-presented with VBA Immigration Sector co-chair Becky Fu von Trapp. Communities—we’ll see you this Saturday at No Kings 3, where VAAP will be speaking in St. Albans and Montpelier. In a hurry? Click a subject link to jump to the corresponding section, featuring relevant resources, referral updates, policy and practice developments, and more: Coordinated Intake Explained For Your Calendar For Communities For Attorneys From the State House From the Media From Our Team And don’t forget to support VAAP and Migrant Justice through joyful resistance at the DEBÍ TIRAR MÁS FIESTAS benefit at Higher Ground on 4/10. My birthday! With so much gratitude and care, Jill Martin Diaz, Esq. Executive Director Need an immigration lawyer in VT? vaapvt.org/help Rapid response for ICE emergency happening now? (802) 881-7229 (Migrant Justice) Non-emergency ICE sightings, secondhand reports: vaapvt.org/icetracker Know Your Rights & Self-Help: vaapvt.org/library Donate to VAAP COORDINATED INTAKE EXPLAINED 🚧 Building an Intake System that Actually Supports People At VAAP, "intake" is more than a first step—it’s where people navigating complex and often urgent immigration processes begin to be seen, heard, and supported. Screening and triage are at the heart of that experience. Screening helps us understand what someone needs, while triage helps us determine how quickly and in what way we can respond. Together, they allow us to move with intention in a space where the need is high and the stakes are even higher. VAAP serves individuals and families navigating the U.S. immigration detention, court, and processing systems, often under pressure, uncertainty, and strict legal deadlines. Like in healthcare or other high-stakes fields, triage exists to ensure that people receive the right support at the right time—not simply in the order they arrive. Without a clear intake system, urgent cases can be delayed, staff and volunteers can become overwhelmed, and clients can feel confused or overlooked. A strong system helps prevent that by creating structure where there might otherwise be chaos. A healthy intake system is both structured and human. It makes it clear how to access support and what to expect, while still honoring each person’s story. It allows us to respond to urgency most effectively—recognizing that someone facing an upcoming court date or detention needs a different level of attention than someone seeking general guidance. It also requires transparency. We set expectations early about timelines, capacity, and what we can realistically offer, so people aren’t left guessing or feeling unsupported. Just as importantly, it creates sustainability for the team, reducing reactive, crisis-driven work and making space for more thoughtful, consistent care. This work is also grounded in professional responsibility. Behind every intake is a commitment to doing things the right way. That means approaching each case with competence, being mindful of conflicts of interest, and communicating clearly about what support looks like. It also means protecting confidentiality, being honest when something may impact a case, and maintaining clear boundaries in how information and resources are handled. And it means showing up with civility—treating people with respect, especially in moments of stress and uncertainty. Every call, form, or message is not just data; it represents a real person navigating a life-changing moment. A well-designed system helps us organize information, make fair and consistent decisions, protect sensitive data, and use limited capacity where it matters most. It allows us to move from reacting to everything, to responding with clarity and purpose. No intake system gets everything right the first time. That’s why we approach this work as something that grows and adapts. We learn from each interaction—with the people we serve and with those supporting this process—and use that insight to make meaningful improvements. Our goal is to build a system that is not only structured, but increasingly accessible, responsive, and aligned with real needs. For partners and supporters, building the system with VAAP means helping us reach more people, respond to urgency with care, and continue strengthening how we serve our community by joining intake coordination. At its best, screening and triage are not barriers—they are bridges. They help connect people to the right support, at the right time, in a way that is thoughtful, ethical, and grounded in care. And that’s how we build a system that truly serves. Our key message? 🚨 If you need immigration legal assistance in Vermont, begin the "intake" process by requesting screening and awaiting triage at vaapvt.org/help. Download and share an English-language written explainer here. View and share an English-language video explainer here. Translations coming soon! FOR YOUR CALENDAR TODAY, March 25: Join Common Good Vermont for Nonprofit Legislative Day in Montpelier—a unique opportunity to connect directly with state leaders and share what nonprofits need in this moment. With speakers, small-group conversations with legislators, and opportunities to provide testimony, this is a rare chance to help shape state priorities. Learn more & RSVP!  The National Partnership for New Americans will host part 2 of its virtual training series on March 25 from 1–3 PM, focused on how community organizations can effectively support detained community members in today’s enforcement landscape. This session will offer practical guidance and tools for responding to detention and strengthening community-based support. Register here. A newly proposed USCIS rule could effectively end work authorization for asylum seekers—potentially forcing people to wait decades before being allowed to work. Join the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) on March 26 at 12:30 PM for a training on what this rule would do and how to take action ahead of the April 24 deadline. Register here. Join us at the Vermont Bar Association Midyear Meeting on March 27 at Hotel Champlain. VAAP’s Jill Martin Diaz and Immigration Sector co-chair Becky Fu Von Trapp will co-lead a CLE on immigration, ICE, and workplaces updates as part of the day’s programming, with MCLE credit available. Register here. Please join Justice After Hours, hosted by the Vermont Bar Foundation and Vermont Law and Graduate School, on March 27 from 4:00–6:30 PM at Hotel Vermont (Van Ness Room). This casual networking reception will highlight the VT Poverty Law Fellowship—including its upcoming focus on immigration work—while offering a chance to connect over refreshments. VAAP will be joining VPIRG and other partners across Vermont at No Kings protests taking place around the state on March 28, speaking at the St. Albans and Montpelier rallies. Come join us to call for dignity, accountability, and protections for all members of our communities. To learn more about rally locations and times across Vermont, visit 50501 Vermont. The ACLU of Vermont's Spring Know Your Rights Tour offers trainings across the state to help communities understand and assert their rights around key topics like protest rights, interactions with law enforcement, and immigrant rights. The next session will take place March 30 at 6 PM in the Northeast Kingdom (Orleans). Learn more and find a training near you. Switchboard will host a webinar on April 1 from 1:00–2:30 PM focused on communication strategies for service providers working with newcomer clients. Participants can earn 1.5 ASWB ACE-approved continuing education credits. Register here and, if possible, review this guide in advance of the event. Join us at Higher Ground for Debí Tirar Más Fiestas on Friday on April 10 (doors 8:30 PM, show 9:00 PM), a high-energy Latin dance night, and celebrate VAAP Executive Director Jill Martin Diaz’s birthday! Proceeds will go towards VAAP and Migrant Justice, so come dance in support of Vermont's immigrant communities! Join the Vermont Changemakers Summit, a free statewide gathering of activists and organizers, on April 11 from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM at Harwood Union High School in Moretown. The event will feature speakers, workshops, and opportunities to connect with advocates working on issues from climate and housing to democracy and public health. Register here. The Seymour Sisters are playing a special acoustic concert on April 18 from 7–9 PM at the Williamsville Hall, with all proceeds supporting VAAP’s work. The evening will also feature brief remarks from Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Molly Gray—making it both a meaningful and memorable night. Save the date! Burlington's Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging's free, community-wide Juneteenth celebration will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Join us in honoring the history of emancipation, reflecting on the ongoing fight for racial justice, and uplifting the next generation in the pursuit of equity and inclusion. More details to come. Save the date for the Annual Justice Gala on November 5 from 6–9 PM at Burlington Beer Company. Hosted by the Vermont Bar Foundation, Vermont Legal Aid, and Legal Services Vermont. Join to celebrate efforts to expand access to justice with music, great food, and awards honoring outstanding advocates. On sale in early May. FOR COMMUNITIES Click here to register for our next Community Case Rounds on 4/7 @10AM. Read the highlights from the last session in our March 11 Newsletter. Here are VAAP’s key highlights from the March 16th RISPNET update:  Recent ICE activity has deeply impacted the community: ICE actions on and around Dorset Street—and elsewhere—during the week of March 9 resulted in multiple detentions and were traumatic for many, significantly increasing fear among Vermont’s immigrant community.  Strong, rapid response from community and legal networks: Local organizations mobilized quickly—Migrant Justice led on-the-ground rapid response, while VAAP and AALV coordinated legal support. Community members are encouraged to use VAAP’s legal intake form for the fastest pathway to immigration legal assistance if someone is detained. New mutual aid system under development: Organizers in Chittenden County are building a coordinated mutual aid network to support immigrants facing urgent needs such as food, financial assistance, and other basic resources. This effort is designed to fill gaps for individuals not already supported and may serve as a model for other regions in Vermont. To request aid, please see this form. Clear process for requesting support: Requests should be submitted by organizations or individuals supporting someone in need (not by the person directly), and should include clear, specific details. Legal needs should continue to go through VAAP’s intake system, as the mutual aid network is not set up for legal assistance. Ongoing coordination and communication: RISPNET continues to convene partners to share information, align responses, and strengthen statewide support efforts during this rapidly evolving situation. The Vermont Language Justice Project’s video on "How to prepare for possible ICE detention or arrest" has been updated to apply to people across the U.S.—not just Vermont and New England. This is an important, accessible resource to help more communities stay informed and prepared. Find the playlist here and please share widely with your networks. We highly recommend the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) in Maine as an excellent resource for timely, reliable updates on immigration law in New England. Their newsletter is a valuable way to stay informed about policy changes, legal developments, and community impacts across the region. Read their latest issue here.   The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) has released several new resources, including a community explainer on changes to the immigration appeals process, a revised family preparedness plan, and a hub tracking federal actions impacting immigrant communities. Please share these trusted resources widely. With Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under threat for over 1 million people, the American Immigration Council has released an updated fact sheet to help make sense of rapidly evolving developments. The resource explains what TPS is, who is affected, and what recent court decisions—like the Supreme Court’s pause on terminations for Haiti and Syria—mean moving forward. We’re proud to uplift the fundraising efforts of our data and technology partners at Rose Computers, whose team members, Dave and Nabil spend a night outside on March 26 to raise funds for Spectrum Youth & Family Services. Donations will be matched up to $1,000—consider giving or even joining them in this powerful show of solidarity using this link. FOR ATTORNEYS Key Takeaways from VAAP's Attorney Case Rounds on 3/17 and 3/24:     Strategic use of voluntary departure and client-centered decision-making: In cases with limited relief (e.g., SIJS-only or weak claims), voluntary departure may be the most practical option. Attorneys should weigh legal strategy against client goals—especially where prolonged detention or uncertain litigation may not serve the client’s best interests. Heightened scrutiny in filings and evidentiary requirements: USCIS and EOIR are applying strict documentation standards (e.g., I-130 validity, family documentation inconsistencies). Affidavits, corroborating evidence, and expert input (including country/document experts) increasingly critical, especially where primary documentation is unavailable. Litigation and detention defense opportunities: Attorneys should continue exploring challenges to unlawful arrests (e.g., reasonable suspicion, 4A/5A violations) and detention practices, while recognizing limits in current case law. Habeas strategies and evidentiary declarations remain key tools. Courtroom strategy (especially virtual hearings): Be concise and strategic in witness preparation, anticipate minor or tangential issues being central, and proactively seek stipulations with opposing counsel. Maintain control of testimony and be prepared to pivot efficiently. Procedural vigilance and risk mitigation: Timely motions (e.g., to sever cases) and careful handling of protest-related or criminal exposure issues are essential. Attorneys should advise clients on risks of enforcement actions including collateral consequences (e.g., benefits loss, added charges). Thank you for participating! Click here to register for 3/31 Rounds. Key Takeaways from Immigrant Justice Corps Alumni Convening on 3/18: Evolving litigation strategies: Attorneys should always consider challenging improper mandatory detention (especially for first-time detainees), scrutinizing warrantless arrests under 8 USC §1357, and filing motions to enforce where bond hearings may be deficient. Shift toward individual litigation: With the decline of class actions, there is increased emphasis on pursuing multiple individual federal cases without gatekeeping to drive impact (“let 1000 flowers bloom”). Protecting due process in court: Be prepared to respectfully assert control over direct examination and object when immigration judges limit testimony or undermine proceedings—building a strong record is critical. Expanded client counseling approaches: Proactive advising, including on voluntary departure and limited-scope “pro se advisals,” can help clients make informed decisions even when full rep. isn’t possible. Sustainability and the role of counsel: Susintable attorney presence remains crucial for client support, particularly across language barriers, and long-term practice strategies like litigation and preserving appeal. The EOIR’s Office of Policy has released a new fact sheet outlining updated rules for observing immigration court hearings. The guidance includes important restrictions—most notably, a ban on all virtual observation—clarifying how and when court proceedings may be observed. We encourage advocates and partners to review these updates carefully As debates around birthright citizenship continue, VAAP encourages attorneys to consult trusted, expert sources. This upcoming conversation on March 26th featuring Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog offers an informed breakdown of the Supreme Court case, including key legal arguments, signals from oral arguments, and potential nationwide impacts. The VT Bar Foundation is recruiting for the 2026-29 VT Poverty Law Fellowship cycle focused on immigration at the Center for Justice Reform Clinic. VAAP director Jill Martin Diaz first came to VT as a VPLF, and later supervised the first immigration-focused VPLF, Maya Tsukazaki, whose report is linked here. Apply & share! FROM THE STATEHOUSE State House Update: Key Developments 💰 Appropriations for Immigration Legal Aid (HOUSE FLOOR) After H.751 stalled in House Judiciary, a historic immigration legal aid line item in H.951 passed out of House Appropriations and the full House votes on it tomorrow. This is a critical step toward stabilizing Vermont’s legal services network—but it now needs continued support as the process moves forward. ⚖️ H.849 – Constitutional Accountability Act (PASSED HOUSE) H.849 passed the House (97–39), creating a pathway to hold federal and local officers accountable for constitutional violations. See, e.g. VNews and Vermont Public. Now it moves to Senate Judiciary. Please voice continued support! 📜 S.208 & S.209 – No Secret Police Bills (PASSED SENATE) Key Senate bills addressing immigrant rights and protections under state law when interacting with ICE need renewed energy and visibility as they enter the House committees. Coordinated support for S.208 and S.209 is key. 🗣️ Making Our Record of Unmet Needs Last week, VAAP participated in a People’s Hearing at the State House—centering community voices and lived experience—to complement formal testimony in Senate Judiciary debriefing the ICE enforcement action on Dorset Street. Other accountability and debriefing hearings are underway (e.g. in Burlington City Government and City Council) 📢 What’s Needed Now Urge senators to advance H.849 Urge representatives to advance H.951, S.208 & S.209 Uplift Common Good Vermont Nonprofit Day TODAY! Momentum is real—but it depends on continued pressure. AFT Vermont is calling for urgent action to address rising costs and inequities in healthcare and higher education. At a time when many Vermonters are struggling, they urge policymakers to invest in these essential systems by asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share. Contact your state representatives to share your support! FROM THE MEDIA From Brattleboro Reformer: "Building out the legal infrastructure to ensure people have lawyers after being detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and their rights are upheld 'seemed the morally right thing to do and economically the right thing to do as well,' [Treasurer] Pieciak said. ICE oftentimes presents the best option as deportation when different avenues are available." From Vermont Public: “Matters says the experience underscores the disadvantage that immigrants who don’t speak English face when they’re detained in facilities that can’t communicate in a language they understand. And she says prohibitions on language-access devices at the Vermont Department of Corrections have in some cases prevented attorneys from providing the basic legal services that immigrants need to fight their cases." From Valley News: "The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, also based out of Burlington, is a legal services and technical assistance organization. . . . Learn how to stay informed and receive alerts about ICE activity in the Upper Valley." From VT Digger: "In court, his lawyer, Emma Matters of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, said that ICE agents didn’t give Castro Guaman any reason for detaining him until they’d already taken him to their field office in St. Albans, where they told him that they’d been looking for someone else. They chose to hold him even though he was not the person they’d been seeking.”  From VTDigger: "VAAP attorneys got in touch with one [civil ICE detainee] who was held in solitary confinement because he broke a prison rule. But the rules of the prison were never explained to him in his language. . . . 'He was in solitary and he didn’t know why,' Martin Diaz said." Catch up on key immigration news from Vermont and around the country: Dorset Street Raid and Protests: VT Digger, WCAX, 7 Days, NBC5, VT Public, Burlington Free Press Responses to police actions during Dorset Street Raid: WAMC, VT Public, AP News, Washington Post, VT Digger Release of ICE Detainees: WCAX, VT Public, VT Digger, VT Digger, Burlington Free Press Steven Tendo remains in community: Vermont Biz Government seeks to reopen proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi: ACLU, WBUR, WCAX Deployment of ICE agents to US airports: VTCNG, Rutland Herald Immigration data harder to find under Trump administration: AP News FROM OUR TEAM Please join us in welcoming two incredible new members to the VAAP team—Dani Arias and Ana Burke. We are thrilled to see how their expertise and passion for justice will enrich VAAP's work! We also want to extend deep gratitude to outgoing Staff Attorney and Practice Development Fellow Andy Pelcher, whose Vermont-honed habeas practice is now heading to the national stage as a Habeas Litigation Associate with our partners at the Amica Center. Andy’s impact here has been profound, and we’re excited to see that work continue to grow. A special thank you as well to Cameron Briggs Ramos, our first Immigration Justice Corps Fellow—the first for Vermont, for VLGS, and for VAAP. Cameron helped lay critical groundwork for our defensive asylum and unaccompanied children work and will continue to partner with VAAP on coordinated intake and data systems design. And with heartfelt appreciation, we thank outgoing board members Victor Bhujel and Aisa Diallo for their years of dedicated service and leadership. Read more about our staff and board online. Dani (she/ella) joins VAAP as our Intake Coordinator, working to build out the coordinated, statewide intake and referral system for immigration legal services. She brings a background in operations and tech, with experience designing efficient, scalable systems. As the daughter of an immigrant, Dani is passionate about making intake a welcoming, reliable first point of access. Ana (she/ella) joins VAAP’s board as Governance Committee Chair. She brings a deep commitment to community service and justice. After working with AmeriCorps and the VT Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, she pursued law school and has since worked across the criminal legal system. She currently serves as Director of Policy and Planning at the Department for Children and Families. THANK YOU! 🍎 Special thanks to UVM students It was an honor to join UVM’s Facul-Tea Learning Community this week—where a record 26 students showed up engaged, curious, and ready to learn about how to support VAAP's work. We’re especially grateful to our weekly Working with Refugees students as well as the UVM Language Access volunteer group, who are not just learning alongside us—but showing up in real time, including in court with us today on a new habeas case out of NWSCF we took on just last week. UVM students are the backbone of VAAP’s operations-focused internship program. From evidence research and case preparation to data tracking, strategic communications, and pro bono mobilization—your work makes our frontline advocacy possible. Thank you for showing up with skill, heart, and commitment. Donate to VAAP Vermont Asylum Assistance Project  P.O. Box 814, Elmwood Ave, Burlington, VT 05402 802-999-5654 ‖ info@vaapvt.org ‖ www.vaapvt.org Copyright © 2026, Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.