VT groups hire lawyers to help immigrants with court across the state

Vermont Legal Aid and the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project have joined forces to expand immigration legal services in the state, according to a community announcement from the two groups.

The collaboration, called the Immigration Community Lawyering Initiative, will establish an immigration law practice at Vermont Legal Aid for the first time, according to the announcement.

Two staff attorneys will be added to serve immigrant communities in central and southern Vermont.

“We’re grateful for the community’s patience as we focus on resolving complex DOC access issues and build the durable infrastructure these regions deserve,” Jill Martin Diaz, executive director at the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, said in the announcement.

The initiative will place attorneys within community organizations already serving immigrants, the goal being to build trust and any remove barriers to justice, according to the announcement.

Attorneys from the southern Vermont office will have a geographic focus. They will provide legal representation and consultations in a wide range of immigration matters, including humanitarian, family-based and employment-based cases, the announcement said. Their services will include humanitarian petitions, asylum and family reunification filings, employment authorization documents, adjustment of status, naturalization and waivers.

The attorneys will be jointly supervised by the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project and Vermont Legal Aid. One attorney will be based in Montpelier, supporting partners across the central region. The other will serve southern Vermont from the Rutland or Springfield offices.

“This historic, long-term expansion is possible because of the steadfast support of foundations, individual donors, and the Vermont Refugee Office — and we’re proud to finally bring this capacity where it’s been needed most,” said Diaz.

“We are incredibly thankful for this collaboration and for the community of supporters who made it possible,” Bessie Weiss, interim executive director at Vermont Legal Aid, said. “This partnership allows us to expand services, deepen impact, and ensure immigrant communities across Vermont have meaningful access to justice.”

This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.