State leaders Thursday announced the launch of a legal defense fund for noncitizen Vermonters targeted for removal proceedings by federal immigration authorities.
The Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund aims to raise $1 million for the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, a Burlington-based nonprofit that has in immigration proceedings over the past year.
Jill Martin Diaz, an immigration attorney who serves as executive director of VAAP, said the money will be used to hire paralegals and staff, train pro bono lawyers, and assist other Vermont nonprofits that provide immigration legal services.
鈥淭he demand is outpacing us,鈥� Martin Diaz said at a press conference in the Statehouse on Thursday. 鈥淎s a small startup, we need help. The current system is overwhelmed.鈥�
The fund comes in response to a slew of high-profile arrests in Vermont. Late last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at a farm in Berkshire, this week.
Also last month, at Champlain Valley Union High School self-deported after being ordered to leave the country as a result of an executive order that terminated their parolee status.
Others can look at Vermont and learn from Vermont and learn from its people. 鈥� The message is don鈥檛 give up on justice.Mohsen Mahdawi
And in mid-April, Mohsen Mahdawi, a permanent legal resident who lives in White River Junction, by masked federal agents for his role in the pro-Palestinian protest movement at Columbia University, where he鈥檚 a student.
Mahdawi, on the order of a federal judge in Vermont last week, spoke at Thursday鈥檚 press conference. He said the new fund will serve as an 鈥渆xemplar鈥� for other states looking to come to the aid of detained immigrants.
鈥淭his is what I call love and care. This is what I call humanity and justice. This is what I call the teachings of Jesus, who would feed the hungry, who would shelter the homeless, and who would provide support to illegal immigrants,鈥� Mahdawi said. 鈥淥thers can look at Vermont and learn from Vermont and learn from its people. 鈥� The message is don鈥檛 give up on justice.鈥�
State Treasurer Mike Pieciak is among the elected officials and philanthropic leaders who helped create the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund, which will be administered by the United Way of Northwest Vermont.
Over the past four months, I鈥檝e heard from hundreds and hundreds of Vermonters. And the same question comes up again and again: What can I do? Today, we have a clear answer.State Treasurer Mike Pieciak
鈥淥ver the past four months I鈥檝e heard from hundreds and hundreds of Vermonters. And the same question comes up again and again: What can I do?鈥� Pieciak said. 鈥淭oday, we have a clear answer. Get involved in this effort. Make a donation.鈥�
Grace Oedel, executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, said immigrant workers play a key role in . A recent survey by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture found that more than 90% of Vermont farms rely on immigrant workers. The state鈥檚 dairy industry alone employs between 750 and 850 migrant workers, according to the agency.
鈥淭hese are folks who moved here for a better life, to work hard, to earn money for their families and keep us all fed,鈥� Oedel said. 鈥淚nstead of being celebrated and welcomed, we鈥檝e seen these families ripped apart, with young children left in the state while their parents are ripped away from them.鈥�
Jesse Bridges, CEO of the United Way of Northwest Vermont, said a community advisory committee will be responsible for disbursing money raised by the fund. He said the goal is to increase and then maintain capacity needed to effectively defend noncitizens in immigration proceedings.
Bridges said the Immigration Legal Defense Fund is modeled after similar targeted fundraising campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic and after the 2023 floods.
鈥淣ow, we鈥檙e all stepping up again, this time to defend families, to protect justice, to make sure that Vermont lives up to its values,鈥� Bridges said.
