(VERMONT) A new statewide push to expand immigrant legal defense is gathering momentum, with the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund moving toward its $1 million goal after topping $250,000 in its first weeks. Announced at the Statehouse on May 8, 2025, the fund is designed to help noncitizen Vermonters facing deportation, detention, or family separation secure lawyers and timely case support. The campaign is ongoing, and backers say early results underscore unmet need and strong public support.

The fund is administered by the United Way of Northwest Vermont, which ensures donations are tax-deductible and handled with financial transparency. Organizers say this approach gives donors confidence while getting money quickly to frontline legal teams. The main beneficiary is the Burlington-based Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP), which represented more than 300 people in immigration proceedings over the past year and has seen requests for help surge since spring.

Officials involved in the effort include State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, who is spearheading the campaign, and Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a co-leader. VAAP’s executive director, Jill Martin Diaz, has called the initiative a timely response to rising enforcement actions and a shrinking pool of affordable legal help. Local partners such as CVRAN and other community nonprofits are also engaged, coordinating referrals and support for people facing hearings or detention far from home.

Early outcomes and capacity-building

Organizers point to direct outcomes that show what sustained funding can do. In May alone, fund-backed legal work:

• Supported the release of three Vermonters from ICE detention.
• Helped end removal proceedings for a family of four asylum seekers.

VAAP also used support to:

• Expand pro bono programs focused on bond, removal defense, and Department of Corrections (DOC) intakes.
• Bring on new contract staff.
• Recruit the largest summer and fall intern cohorts in its history.

This mix of paid capacity and trained volunteers, leaders say, helps meet tight court timelines and keeps families together.

“Pairing caseworkers, trained volunteers, and attorneys helps families get faster help with bond, credible fear interviews, and court filings that can determine whether a person can stay with loved ones or is removed.”

Why the fund was launched

Backers say the timing is urgent. Vermont experienced high-profile arrests and deportations in spring 2025, which rattled immigrant families and local employers. Because immigration cases are civil, not criminal, there is no right to a government-paid lawyer, leaving many people to face judges alone. The shortage of immigration attorneys in the state makes matters worse.

Advocates warn that fear can spread quickly: when people think any contact with authorities could lead to removal, they are less likely to report crimes, seek medical care, or send children to school.

The economic stakes are also highlighted by supporters:

• Immigrant communities in Vermont contribute over $500 million in taxes annually.
• They account for $1.2 billion in annual spending.

Employers across sectors say that stable, lawful status and access to legal help keep workers on the job and communities steady.

For general information about immigration court processes and the right to hire a lawyer at no expense to the government, readers can consult the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review: https://www.justice.gov/eoir.

How the fund works and who it helps

The fund’s dollars are being used to:

• Hire paralegals and staff to move cases faster and improve client communication.
• Train and mentor pro bono attorneys so more Vermont lawyers can take on bond, asylum, and removal defense.
• Support partner nonprofits that provide intake, translation, and referrals.

Because the United Way of Northwest Vermont is the fiscal agent, donations can be made online, by check, or by stock and wire transfer, with acknowledgment letters for tax purposes. Leaders say this structure reduces overhead, speeds disbursements, and anchors the campaign in a trusted community institution.

The fund’s advocates also point to legislative and federal context:

• VAAP’s policy work helped pass several 2025 state measures — S.56/H.375, S.44/H.298, and S.95/H.98 — which include protections important to immigrant families.
• Recent federal executive actions have led to the termination of parolee status for some people, triggering fresh deportations and self-deportations. That shift has increased demand for up-to-date legal advice, more bond motions, and rapid filings for those at risk.

State Treasurer Pieciak has emphasized due process and Vermont’s duty to protect residents when federal safeguards fall short. Senator Ram Hinsdale has described the fund as a model others can use to keep communities safe and treat families with dignity.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Vermont’s coordinated, statewide approach is likely to be watched by other states that are weighing how to close gaps in immigrant legal defense during periods of federal policy change.

Service delivery and intake improvements

Community leaders describe the early impact as a turning point. By pairing caseworkers, trained volunteers, and attorneys, advocates say families get faster help with:

• Bond hearings
• Credible fear interviews
• Court filings that can determine detention outcomes

VAAP reports it has:

• Broadened clinic hours
• Expanded DOC intakes
• Improved triage so urgent cases are flagged quickly

For those trying to reach help, VAAP and partner groups are expanding intake and referral systems. People seeking legal services can contact VAAP through its website, ask for an intake appointment, and be directed to pro bono or low-cost options when appropriate.

Local nonprofits assist with:

• Transportation to court
• Translation services
• Gathering medical and school records that can support claims

Accessing support and donating

• Immigrants seeking help: Contact the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) at www.vaapvt.org to request intake. New staff and interns are handling more calls and emails and can guide applicants through next steps.
• Pro bono attorneys: VAAP offers training and mentorship for Vermont lawyers interested in bond, removal defense, and asylum cases. Attorneys can sign up to receive materials and join supervised case teams.
• Donors: Give through the United Way of Northwest Vermont at give.unitedwaynwvt.org/p/vermont-immigration-legal-defense-fund, by check, or via stock and wire transfer. All contributions are tax-deductible.

United Way office:
– 412 Farrell Street, Suite 200, South Burlington, VT 05403

Press contacts:
– Natalie Silver: (347) 461-4982
– Patti Komline: (908) 938-1616

Road ahead and broader implications

Advocates say the road ahead is clear: keep raising funds, keep hiring, and keep training. With more than $250,000 already raised toward $1 million, organizers plan to:

1. Add staff positions.
2. Deepen partnerships with community groups.
3. Recruit more pro bono counsel.

If the campaign meets its target, VAAP and allied nonprofits say they can reach more people at risk, shorten detention, and reduce the number of unrepresented cases before immigration judges.

The fund’s backers stress that this effort is about safety and fairness as much as legal filings. When families trust that help is available, they are more likely to call the police when they witness a crime, take sick children to see doctors, and show up for school meetings and court dates — benefits that supporters say extend to the whole state.

Organizers note that for many people, even small steps can change outcomes: a well-prepared bond hearing, a correctly filed work permit request, or an asylum case documented with care.

The Vermont model is gaining attention beyond state lines. Backers describe a practical blueprint:

• Center services in a capable nonprofit.
• Add staff quickly to meet demand.
• Train local attorneys.
• Use a trusted community partner to handle donations.

They argue this approach can scale in other states as more families face uncertain federal policies and complex cases.

For now, the push in Vermont continues. The Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund will keep working toward $1 million, while VAAP and partner groups build capacity to meet rising demand. Organizers say the goal is simple and concrete: make sure no one in Vermont has to face immigration court alone.