Vermont Asylum Assistance Project exists to raise Vermont noncitizens’ awareness of and access to critical immigration legal help and support. We achieve our mission through statewide direct service delivery, pro bono coordination, technical assistance, community education, and administrative and legislative advocacy. Serving as a bridge between immigrant service providers and regulators across the state and region, VAAP educates the public on immigration issues and advocates for policies and practices that advance immigrants’ rights.

We envision a future Vermont where all noncitizens are aware of and enjoy equitable access to their immigration and related legal rights, and where all foreign-born individuals and mixed status families experience equity, inclusion, and belonging regardless of arrival circumstances or status.

The number of people seeking asylum in the U.S. has nearly quintupled over the past decade. Without legal counsel, asylum seekers face enormous challenges in obtaining work authorization and meeting basic needs. They are also three to five times more likely to be denied asylum and deported, often to life-threatening situations.

In Vermont, the number of asylum seekers has risen sharply in recent years, but the state’s capacity for legal and advocacy support has not kept up. With one of the lowest attorney-to-population ratios in the country, Vermont struggles to provide asylum seekers with the legal representation they need, whether paid or pro bono.

In response, community-based organizations have stepped up to fill the gap. One example is the Community Asylum Seekers Project, which became VAAP’s first fiscal sponsor in 2016. VAAP builds on our partners’ on-the-ground expertise by combining it with strong legal connections. Together, we create a statewide resource center to train, mentor, and support attorneys and advocates while connecting them with asylum seekers who need help. Vermont is now home to a growing number of people seeking safety from countries like Haiti, the Northern Triangle, the African continent, and Afghanistan.

As an independent 501(c)(3), VAAP aims to expand this network of legal support. By leveraging our partners’ resources and expertise, we can provide hundreds more people with fair access to the legal system, the regulated economy, safe social inclusion, and the chance to live with dignity.