It was with deep sadness – and appreciation – that the CVRAN community learned that Lou Cherry had died in early April, in Asheville, NC, after a short illness. He had only recently relocated there from Vermont to join his wife, Arlene. Lou was a person with wide interests, strong personal qualities, and deep commitments. …

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 …

Buzzfeed News recently reported that more than 100,000 Haitians residing in the U.S. since prior to May 21 have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Haitians who satisfy this criterion must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pass a background check after which they will receive work and travel authorization. Haiti …

Biden recently announced that he would increase the refugee cap for the fiscal year (ending September 30) to 62,500. This is a reversal from his prior statement that he would be leaving the Trump administration’s cap of 15,000 in place. The administration had seemed on the verge of increasing the refugee cap for months but …

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 …