Russell Clar, an 8th grader at the Montpelier Middle School and a member of the Beth Jacob Synagogue is our newest generous supporter. For his Bar Mitzvah service project in April, he was inspired to support the effort to promote refugee justice. Instead of receiving gifts himself he chose to have any gifts for him …

Seth Dale is a minister in New Jersey, a supporter of the local refugee community and the son of  Wendy Dale, a CVRAN member.  He sent her the following letter he received, which could provide inspiration and ideas for refugees and asylum seekers here in Vermont. Hello Everyone: I am Ashar Hafeez Ghumman and I …

A report commissioned by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board found that up to 40% of the housing for migrant farm workers does not meet minimum standards for safety and cleanliness. The necessary upgrades to each dwelling would require at least $5000, money most farmers cannot spare because of the financial pressure of low milk …

The Biden Administration is struggling to keep up  with a surge of young migrants, whose numbers increase day by day, outstripping the staff and facilities needed to process and house them.   More than 20,000 children are currently in government custody; and by June there could be 35,000 needing care, a prospect that a former …

Police reform measures adopted by Lebanon and Hanover last year that prevent local and state police from collaborating with federal immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants are under threat.  The Valley News reports that a bill, referred to as the “Anti-Sanctuary Act” by its supporters, would force police officers to comply with …

On February 24 President Biden reopened the country to people seeking green cards, saying that Trump’s ban on legal immigration ” . . . harms the United States . . . It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world.” This was a reference to Trump’s claim that the …

The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, the Biden Administration’s broad overhaul of the U.S. immigration system, was announced on February 18 by its chief sponsors Senator Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey; and Representative Linda T. Sanchez, Democrat of California.  They were joined by 10 other members of Congress in announcing the proposed legislation. At …

The title See No Stranger aptly captures the central message of this book: when we look at another person, we should not see that person as a stranger but rather as a part of ourselves.  What better message could there be for all of us interested in welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to Central Vermont? The author, …

On February 2 President Biden signed three new executive orders, starting to move toward reuniting migrant children with their parents, rebuilding a working asylum system, and restoring opportunities for foreign workers and students to come to the U.S.  But there is much to do to rebuild an asylum and refugee system the can process large …