NBC5 speaks to VAAP about cuts
NBC5 Reports: Concerns rising amid federal funding cuts for immigration and refugee services
“People are reporting fear of dropping their kids off at school, going to health appointments, of going to the grocery store," said Jill Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project.
Updated: 8:11 AM EST Feb 23, 2025
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Jill Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, said the group has been forced to close its doors to new cases and suspend critical services for migrants and refugees in Vermont following federal funding cuts.
"We’re not able to take on any new requests for know your rights education or technical assistance for government or private entities in Vermont who rely on us for expertise," Diaz said. "It’s basically our doors are closed until we’re able to replace the funding that was lost.”
Diaz said as immigration enforcement raids persist around the country, fears continue to rise.
“People are reporting fear of dropping their kids off at school, going to health appointments, of going to the grocery store," Diaz said. "I’ve heard reports of folks who are sheltering in place like we did in early 2020.”
The Rev. Karen Johnston with the Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington said the fear even extends into her community. Johnston said in January, the Department of Homeland Security withdrew protections that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting raids in schools, hospitals and places of worship.
Johnston said the Universalist Society is known for accepting people of all backgrounds, including people of all immigration statuses.
“We as a community are quite concerned about the shift that has happened in what makes houses of worship, our house of worship, unsafe for all the people that we welcome here," she said.
Johnston said her team has been preparing for the possibility of ICE knocking on the door. In the meantime, she's encouraging everyone experiencing fear to seek support from a community.
“So that we are not alone in figuring out what is the best way to protect our democracy and protect each other," Johnston said.
Meanwhile, Diaz said the VAAP is currently pushing for a bill that expands services offered to noncitizens in Vermont, specifically for the immigrant population.
Diaz said while there is a designated state refugee office, the VAAP is advocating for new legislation to implement the same infrastructure and positions to support the immigrant communities in Vermont.
"To shore up and make more inclusive the mandate for the existing refugee office and to create mechanisms to keep our immigrant communities coordinated and safe no matter what comes next in the federal administration," Diaz said.
While the VAAP is not accepting new cases at this time, Diaz said anyone can access free educational tools and resources on its website.
