VAAP opines on next “ONA” Bill
Establishing a Vermont Office for Migrant Inclusion
Reflections on VT “ONA” Equivalent POTENTIAL Naming, Structure, and Strategy
As Vermont has continued its journey toward a more inclusive and equitable future for all residents, the question of establishing an "Office of New Americans" equivalent in our state has sparked rich and complex conversations. And now, as the federal government continues its journey toward an explicitly anti-immigrant agenda across all three branches, the need to establish an ONA equivalent in Vermont has never been more urgent.
From VAAP’s perspective as nationally engaged immigration legal advocates, we are excited by the reprisal of Senator Martine Laroque Gulick’s S.194 (2024) planned for the upcoming legislative session. We have made and continue to make ourselves available to all to share subject matter expertise that would help inform these efforts.
To begin, taking direction from diverse community stakeholders and impacted groups we have consulted, along with our own client communities and experiences as direct service providers, we offer the following initial input to our lawmakers considering an ONA bill:
Naming: More Than a Label
As lawmakers advance the creation of an ONA equivalent for Vermont, they should note that the term "New Americans" is very normalized but very limiting and, for some, exclusionary and harmful. It implies a narrow focus on recent arrivals and risks alienating immigrants from the Americas who already identify as "Americans." Vermont immigrants are already weary of engaging with government and affiliated agencies, by design, and any office hoping to improve their lived experience should carry a name that is both inclusive and precise, reflecting Vermont’s diverse communities and migration histories, and easily distinguished from existing entities.
Drawing inspiration from other states, such as Michigan’s "Office of Global Michigan" or Oregon’s "Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement," Vermont has an opportunity to choose a name that captures the spirit of equity and belonging. Suggestions from VAAP partners include: Office for Migrant Inclusion; Office for Immigrant Advancement; Vermont Office for Migrant Dignity, Migrant Life Network Vermont. Lawmakers may also wish to consider framing the office name (as well as its structure, host agency, and mandate) in terms of economic development, given the dispositive role that in migration is already playing and will continue playing in Vermont’s social and economic viability and sustainability long term.
Governance and accountability: Striking the Right Balance
Other states and national technical assistance providers report that effective ONA governance requires diverse voices and impacted groups, without becoming too government-leadership heavy. With respect to the establishment of a governance and accountability mechanism for the proposed ONA, VAAP’s community consultations have emphasized the importance of balancing government representation with input from community-based organizations (CBOs), service providers, economic stakeholders, and affinity groups. VAAP partners have relayed that key stakeholders could include:
Government entities: Agency of Human Services (AHS), Department of Labor and or Economic Develop, Office of Racial Equity, State Refugee Office, among others.
Community and affinity organizations: Migrant Justice, Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Vermont Afghan Alliance, among others.
Service providers: Refugee agencies like USCRI and ECDC, asylum seekers support groups like the VASN members, community action organizations like CVOEO, specialists like UVM Extension and the Open Door Clinic, among others.
Education and advocacy partners: UVM and Middlebury migration studies programs, ACLU VT, and economic development organizations.
Private sector: Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, VT Chamber of Commerce and affiliates, and other employer representatives.
Structure and Process: A Framework for Success
Locating the office within a well-resourced agency like AHS, potentially alongside the State Refugee Office, could optimize resource sharing and collaboration. However, Vermont must tread carefully to ensure this integration enhances, rather than dilutes, the new office's mandate.
Alternatively, locating the office within an economy- or workforce-focused agency like DOL or DED could optimize the ONA’s ability to weather anti-immigrant but pro-economic policies upcoming at the federal level.
The ONA’s charge could benefit from explicit language emphasizing partnerships with non-governmental and private-sector organizations. This would align with best practices in other states, where collaboration has proven essential in addressing immigrant communities' needs.
Timeline: Balancing Urgency and Thoughtfulness
Senator Gulick’s model bill proposes the establishment of a governance mechanism to study and then report on the best structure, process, charge, and operations plan for a VT ONA equivalent. Given the urgency of need among Vermont’s immigrant communities, VAAP believes that a September 2025 report date would provide a reasonable timeline for outreach, engagement, and thoughtful planning while allowing for ONA operationalizing in calendar 2025. Using a model like carefully facilitated and highly participatory Burlington’s Community Safety Advisory Task Force, the ONA governance mechanism could structure its work into a series of facilitated workshops complemented by targeted subgroup meetings.
Looking Ahead
Vermont is at a pivotal moment. With careful planning, inclusive decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to equity, we can create an ONA equivalent that not only supports all immigrant communities but enriches the entire state. Let’s seize this opportunity to lead with intention, ensuring that the new office reflects Vermont’s values of dignity, inclusion, and justice for all.
What are your thoughts? How can we refine this vision further? Let’s keep the conversation going.
