July – August Newsletter
Welcome to CVRAN’s new-and-improved newsletter! We have migrated the contents of our newsletter from WordPress into Givebutter, where the majority of our contacts live. This helps you stay in touch with us if you want, with an option to unsubscribe at the bottom of this message. We understand, we get a lot of emails, too! But we hope you’ll stick with us and read up on national and local updates that affect our New Vermonter neighbors and the allies that work day-in and day-out to protect all members of our community.
Monthly Roundup
It was such a busy summer we couldn’t find time to write up a newsletter until now! We appreciate your patience to hear from us here, and hope in the meantime you attended our Summer Quarterly Meeting on 7/21. This meeting was jam-packed with information that varied from super fun stuff – our Summer Reading Program has been going strong! – to the less fun stuff, including federal and local policy updates affecting our immigrant neighbors. We will summarize those July updates for you here, with some additional developments from the month of August.
Several key Supreme Court decisions are greatly affecting immigrant residents of the United States. These include upholding birthright citizenship for all children born on U.S. soil, and several more disappointing decisions, including the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria and Haiti, allowing “metering” or turning away asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border before they enter the U.S., and increasing the discretion of border officers to turn green card holders away from returning to the U.S. These decisions weaken long‑standing safeguards and create new barriers for people seeking safety and reunification with loved ones. These rulings will have real, painful consequences for New Vermonters. CVRAN will continue to stand with affected families and push for policies rooted in dignity and fairness.
A federal court has ruled that USCIS’s pause on processing asylum, green card, and EAD applications for nationals of 39 countries was unlawful, though the government has appealed and delays continue. In Vermont, we have already seen new movement in the green card and asylum interview process since this ban was lifted. The U.S. Department of State maintains a visa‑issuance ban affecting nationals of 75 countries applying from abroad, which is separate from the USCIS process. This ban continues to affect those petitioning for family members to join them here in the U.S. You can check a pending USCIS case status here (requires a receipt # – ask your attorney if you are unsure). This applies only to those waiting on affirmative asylum applications, EAD applications, and asylees or refugees applying for a green card (not those in immigration court or EOIR).
New USCIS guidance on Public Charge inadmissibility has been published. While this shifts how some applications are evaluated, it does not apply to refugee or asylum‑based cases. We continue to encourage families to enroll in federal benefits programs for which they qualify.
You may have heard in the news recently that the U.S. State Department announced that it is revoking B-1 and B-2 business and tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for foreign nationals who have applied for asylum after entering the United States.
After consulting with several immigration lawyers, we understand that asylum claims will NOT be impacted by this change. While a prior B-1 or B-2 visa may be revoked, asylum seekers who have already submitted a claim are still here legally while their claim is being processed. If New Vermonter families have any questions about this process, please feel free to share this information with them.
Much of the framing and quotes from US officials on this matter have served to scare and dehumanize folks who may be in this situation. Please rest assured that, despite the rhetoric and the framing of these visa revocations by US officials, the revocation of these non-immigrant visas does not mean that asylum claims are in jeopardy.
CVRAN staff were informed earlier this week of an error by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that found hundreds of folks who were automatically registered as voters, even if they are not eligible to vote. The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office has already removed nearly 900 individuals from these voter rolls. This may impact our New Vermonter community at CVRAN.
We are actively developing our response, including outreach, guidance, and coordination with partners, to ensure our community has accurate information and support. Family team leaders may be contacted by CVRAN staff so we can verify voter registration status and provide guidance to prevent any immigration‑related consequences from this over‑enrollment.
CVRAN will keep families informed and supported as federal, state, and local policy updates are published. Now, back to local CVRAN news!
As many of you know, we were lucky to have an intern working with us this summer, and Skye has recently finished up his tenure with us and returned to UVM. We are incredibly grateful to Skye for all the many ways he contributed positively to our community. Best of luck in your senior year, Skye!
And we are truly fortunate to have yet another fantastic intern joining us this fall, Maddie Tagatac! Maddie will introduce themselves below:
“Hello everyone! My name is Maddie Tagatac and I am thrilled to be CVRAN’s intern for the fall semester. I am a local Vermonter from Stowe, though I am currently pursuing an MA in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po in Paris, France. I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont where I studied Political Science and Philosophy.
I am so honored to be a part of CVRAN’s mission and to contribute to direct refugee and asylum seeker support in my own home state. Between my educational pursuits, I worked at USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance in Washington, DC learning the ins and outs of donor-level international aid for the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe regions. Having the opportunity now to engage with direct client support – as opposed to the distant work of a donor government – is deeply motivating and rewarding as I embark on this new adventure with you all. I can’t wait to help welcome New Vermonters to this very special state and be in community with CVRAN and the Montpelier area!
When I’m not working, you will find me crocheting (a new hobby!), seeking out swimming holes, practicing French, and reading.”
Welcome, Maddie!!
We are excited to report that we are able to fully fund the Refugee Food Access Program in partnership with Just Basics Inc. through the rest of FY26. This program provides specialized and Halal food boxes to immigrant families at the Montpelier Food Pantry. Boxes are available for pickup every Friday and Saturday, and home delivery is offered to residents who face accessibility barriers. Additionally, CVRAN is able to continue to fund its SNAP Relief Grant Program through the rest of FY26. Families affected by the loss of SNAP benefits in October 2025 will continue to receive a percentage of their food benefit replaced through the CVRAN budget.
CVRAN has recently conducted several surveys of our clients and their volunteer teams to determine needs and gaps in CVRAN service provision. The focus of our first survey was on housing, the second was on health insurance coverage. Please feel free to view a report of each survey’s results here and here.
On the topic of health insurance, CVRAN is working hard to support families who may lose Medicaid this fall. We’re assessing needs, sharing clear guidance, and coordinating solutions to prevent a steep benefits cliff. A reminder that no children will lose access to Dr. Dynasaur. We are working closely with Vermont Legal Aid’s Office of the Health Care Advocate, the statewide experts on health coverage. If you need help understanding your insurance options, call their helpline at 1‑800‑917‑7787.
We want to extend a huge thank you to the staff at the Office of the Health Care Advocate for coming down to Montpelier to host an info session for team leads and volunteers regarding upcoming changes to healthcare for non-citizens in Vermont. We sincerely appreciate and rely on their partnership during this difficult time of policy change.
We are so proud to see CVRAN’s own Isabelle selected for Hearts You Hold‘s monthly newsletter spotlight. Of course, we think she deserves all the praise and a whole lot more! Her exceptional work coordinating donations for CVRAN families, alongside the steadfast support of volunteer Olivia Gay, has brought vital items to households across Central Vermont. Isabelle’s dedication and heart shine through everything she does, and we relish any chance to celebrate her!
Are you interested in sharing your experiences navigating the messy, exhausting, and often absurd immigration system we all somehow manage to get through? You should connect with Maja, Program and Outreach Coordinator at the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP)! Read about Maja’s project below:
“As part of my work for VAAP, I am currently doing the Vermont Community Fellowship through the Vermont Folklife Center. I am working on a project that seeks to document what it is like to navigate the landscape of immigration legal services in Vermont from the perspective of those providing services, those seeking legal assistance and everyone in-between!
I am looking for people who are willing to be interviewed about their experience of supporting people through a legal immigration matter of any kind. These interviews are very informal and would typically last approximately 1 hour, but they can be shorter or longer depending on your interest and availability. While they would be audio-recorded, they can be anonymised through various methods. After the interview, I would share the recording and transcript with you, and you would have the opportunity to give me feedback in whatever format works best for you. While the hope is to use the interviews to create advocacy or public education materials, you would be asked for your consent prior to me using parts of your interview for this purpose.
Should you be interested in participating in this project or simply have more questions about what participating would entail, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 8025563362 (call, text, Whatsapp) or email maja@vaapvt.org.”
CVRAN extends heartfelt thanks to the Vermont Community Foundation for a recent generous general operations grant, and to the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation for its major investment in our Youth Enrichment Fund. These awards strengthen our core work and expand opportunities for refugee and immigrant youth across Central Vermont.
Recent News
Victories in the Vermont State House! 2026 Legislative Recap (7/10)
No exit: Inside a botched ICE raid in Vermont (7/15)
The use of force has become a ‘default tool’ for ICE officers, a new report finds (7/16)
Vermonters protest along Church St. following shooting deaths of two by ICE agents (7/17)
Federal appeals court overturns Vermont judge’s ruling that released Mohsen Mahdawi (7/21)
End of immigration program forces difficult choices for Vermont residents (7/27)
Vermont Librarian Uses Read-Alouds To Connect with Immigrant Students (8/5)
Chittenden Sheriff Department and Border Patrol team up to deport Vermont farmworker (8/10)
Justice Department sues Vermont over in-state tuition for undocumented students (8/10)
Palestinian Activist Facing Deportation Garners Rousing Support at Montpelier Fundraiser (8/12)
Vermont Afghan Alliance losing majority of its funding (8/17)
Vermont community gathers to support detained Ugandan asylum seeker Steven Tendo (8/19)
Vermont Law Enforcement Agencies Help the Feds Patrol the Border. Should They? (8/19)
Community Highlights
From one of our incredibly dedicated summer camp drivers: “My husband and I connected so easily with A (bonus was meeting younger sister, and Mom, too). A showed off his cardboard creation – a miniature ‘tree house’ complete with escape routes for the good guys and traps for the bad guys. He was so proud of it and the prospect of putting the finishing touches on it.”
Volunteer Spotlight: Dina Lehrer
Dina started thinking about volunteering last summer after retiring from working as a nurse and then as a student support/ classroom assistant in elementary schools for the last 10 years. She didn’t want to j
ump into anything right away, just to do some exploring and investigating of the options before committing to anything. Last Fall, through conversations with several CVRAN volunteers, she met an Afghan family with the plan to spend some time with their preschool-aged child once a week.
Dina had weekly visits with her little friend, taking her out of the apartment, and finding ways to engage in the community. Team leader, Susan K says “Dina’s impact has been remarkable in the life of a preschooler. She has taken her to a weekly playgroup and has helped her prepare for preschool, with lots of social skills practice. Additionally, Dina has really helped with English language reinforcement during car rides. This preschooler is now clearly familiar with the essential phrase: rolls from Manghis!”
Additionally, this summer, Dina was part of a group of folks providing childcare for children at the library, allowing their mothers to attend English class.
Favorite CVRAN moment: “The growing connection with my little friend. Building a relationship is a gradual and subtle thing. It takes a while to develop comfort and ease with one another, especially when there’s a language barrier. I’m feeling the familiarity and warmth growing, which is a lovely thing. The other experience that was so heartwarming, is watching the Afghan moms arrive at the library for their English class with their children. Everyone greets each other so warmly, and the older siblings are so helpful with the younger ones. It’s wonderful to see this community come together.”
Favorite thing to do in VT: “This summer, my husband Eric and I have been following our son Leo to various farmers markets. He started a BBQ business (Leo’s BBQ) and is hauling a smoker around to different spots, cooking up delicious food. It’s been an exciting experience. I love to be on my bike, swim and garden during the summer. Other times of year, I’m happy getting outside and enjoying the beauty of our state.”
You’re Invited!
Click for details on each flyer.
Saturday, August 29th, 2026
Crop Cash Info Session at Montpelier Farmer’s Market
9:00-1:00 PM
133 State St, Montpelier, VT
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Lawson’s Finest Liquids Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
11:00 AM-8:00 PM
Lawson’s Finest Taproom, 155 Carroll Rd, Waitsfield, VT
Friday, September 4, 2026
Milk With Dignity: Rally at Hannaford’s Parent Company
Pickup at 8:45 AM from Montpelier Park & Ride, Rally at 1:00 PM
Ahold Delhaize USA Office, 1385 Hancock St, Quincy, MA
Saturday, September 5, 2026
8:00-9:00 AM
North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Vermont Women’s Fund Annual Celebration Featuring Shabana Basij-Rasikh
5:00-7:00 PM
UVM Davis Center, 590 Main Street, Burlington, VT
Saturday, September 19, 2026
CVRAN’s Fall Picnic!!!
1:00-4:00 PM
North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Reading to End Racism Training
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Bethany Church, 115 Main St, Montpelier, VT