Immigrants residing in southern and central regions of Vermont are set to benefit from enhanced legal service offerings through a newly announced partnership. The Immigration Community Lawyering Initiative, developed jointly by Vermont Legal Aid and the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, establishes a dedicated immigration law practice within Vermont Legal Aid for the first time since the organization's inception nearly 60 years ago.
Bessie Weiss, the interim executive director of Vermont Legal Aid, reported that this expansion includes the recruitment of two immigration attorneys positioned in Rutland and Springfield, respectively. This development is aligned with the recognition that the availability of immigration legal services in Vermont has lagged behind the state's professed values and needs.
Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, emphasized that Vermont's legal infrastructure has not adequately prepared for the growing presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, including raids and detainment practices targeting immigrant populations.
According to Martin Diaz, the shortage of immigration legal services is a challenge that precedes the Trump Administration, and advocates hope that the current initiative will establish a more sustainable foundation for immigration legal support in Vermont moving forward.
“Our goal is to stand alongside communities facing heightened scrutiny and to make legal assistance accessible as a proactive defense measure. The most effective way to prevent detention and deportation is to ensure individuals have legal counsel,” Martin Diaz explained.
Initially, the two appointed attorneys will provide complimentary legal assistance encompassing immigrant status applications, asylum petitions, green card processing, and benefit petitions such as work permits. There is potential for the program to expand into handling detention-related cases over time.
Vermont Asylum Assistance Project will contribute fundraising efforts and co-supervise the program alongside Vermont Legal Aid, facilitating resource mobilization and operational oversight.
Complementing this initiative, the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project has launched a new program to develop practice capacity, adding two fellows funded by a Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund grant aimed at fortifying immigration legal services.
Martin Diaz highlighted that legal service gaps are pronounced outside Chittenden County, where most new Americans reside and where legal resources are traditionally concentrated. The organization's previous caseload limitations prevented engagement in critical cases, such as those involving Upper Valley resident Mohsen Mahdawi and Manchester's Davona Williams.
“It was deeply challenging to decline requests for legal aid from our partners in central and southern Vermont, but taking on additional cases without adequate capacity risked harm to clients,” said Martin Diaz.
Sharon Hall-Smith, head of the Community Asylum Seekers Project based in Brattleboro, corroborated these challenges, noting that clients in southern Vermont have repeatedly encountered hurdles accessing legal assistance.
“Having professional legal representation significantly improves asylum applicants' outcomes. Due to the inherent complexity of immigration law, legal counsel is critical to ensuring cases are effectively presented,” Hall-Smith stated.
One of the initiative’s new attorneys, Daniel Schmidt, formerly involved in disaster relief with Vermont Legal Aid, will be stationed in Springfield. He plans to collaborate with community organizations to assist individuals navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration procedures.
Devanne O’Brien, the other newly hired attorney based in Rutland, brings experience as an asylum seeker and refugee advocate. Her role includes direct representation and close engagement with local communities to promptly identify and address emerging issues.
“With the rise in detainments, ensuring widespread access to legal representation is paramount. The repercussions of removal without proper counsel can be devastating,” O’Brien remarked.