CVRAN

Fear And Hope

President’s Letter – February 24, 2025

Dear CVRAN Community,

Reporters, interviewers all are asking: what is the impact of budget cuts and policy changes on Vermonters, specifically on Vermont organizations working with immigrants? The answer is becoming increasingly clear. It is terrible for everyone. Just how terrible is it for us, for CVRAN?

Initially, one would say CVRAN’s current operations have not yet been impacted by Trump’s orders, but a few conversations quickly yield the extent of the fear our New Vermonters feel even though they have the appropriate documents to be here legally. They fear deportation, even though by law they should not be deported. They see the news of Columbians being flown back to a country that does not want them, people trying to cross the border to Canada, deportees bound for Venezuela. They don’t know what will happen next, but worry it might happen to them. And, now “it“ has indeed happened within our circle. One of our families was caught up by border patrol when they got lost near the border and has been having a horrible time ever since. The father is still in detention, where he shouldn’t be. We are scared for him and for the family, although his lawyer has hope.

Along with fear comes the despair of those who hoped to reunite with their families or bring their friends out of the incredible danger in their home countries. CVRAN had hoped to help. We tried to welcome the wife and parents of an American citizen, friends who have been 14 years in a refugee camp, an Afghan single mother and her 3 children. None of these people made it to the U.S.  We feel deeply the suffering of those who by long-standing international law should be receiving refuge and asylum. We, a country of immigrants, believe other immigrants should also be able to come here and be welcomed.

Operationally, CVRAN at first appears to be a lucky organization. Unlike some other Vermont groups which lost half to all their funding, we have had no federal money to lose, relying largely on private donations. Unlike those other groups, our staffing has not been cut; in fact we are going the opposite route, bringing on our first ever executive director (more below.) And yet, CVRAN is a part of a web of infrastructures that may be targeted: health care, housing, legal services, and cooperation with agencies & other non profits which are facing direct and indirect cuts such as Downstreet, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, USCRI, Vermont Asylum Assistance Program, and Vermont Afghan Alliance. It is hard to know how deep the indirect pass-through effects may be. Much is murky at this point.

But overall the big picture view is completely clear: we are all in a sorry state.  The inherent right of each human being to dignity and respect is being replaced by an atmosphere of threat and fear. Promises to Afghan allies are being broken when they and their families are not let in to the United States. Persons seeking asylum by international law are being refused entry to the US, or asylum status not granted. Families are kept apart.  Immigrant support groups are being eviscerated by funding cuts. The infrastructure which upholds our society, including newcomers, is being chipped away.

Where is there hope?

Our hope is in all of you: in the warmth and humanity of individuals rallying to counter this bad news. There are an increased number of volunteers and donors wanting to be involved in this work, believing it is important to step up in hard times. Because of the upwelling of concern and of support, CVRAN has reached out to take on multiple new families in the last few months: a young African couple, an African mom and toddler, a single African woman, a family from the Caribbean, an Afghan man, and the family of a person who was already here.

Our hope is inspired by you who are also New Vermonters: your resilience and courage in the face of persistent difficulties teach us not to give up, but to continue; to try one avenue and if it doesn’t work, try another.

And our hope is in the future, which we address today with our first-ever executive director who will help shape and guide our continued work together. Read all about her in the accompanying article. Alison Zenie starts today, Monday, February 24^th.

Do you want to take a small step? Go to our website (CVRAN.org) and sign up as a member, sign up as a volunteer, and sign up a supporter for a March Arts Marathon artist. Adelante! Let’s keep working together towards a better world.