Federal immigration push
Conservative lawmakers this week unveiled sweeping proposals to end chain migration and scrap the diversity‑visa program, alongside bills that would bar people from six countries and push for large‑scale returns of refugees—signs of a harder federal stance on immigration. The trio of initiatives could reshape who can enter or remain in the U.S. and is already driving debate among advocates and states. (ogles.house.gov) (newsweek.com) (wnd.com)
On Jan. 29, 2026 Vermont Legal Aid and the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project launched the Immigration Community Lawyering Initiative and hired two immigration attorneys stationed in Rutland and Springfield to expand services outside Chittenden County. (newsfromthestates.com) The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) was cofounded in 2021, incorporated in 2023, staffed in 2024, and now provides no‑cost immigration legal assistance for Vermont‑located noncitizens at risk of detention while running policy advocacy at the State House. On Jan. 21, 2026 the ACLU of Vermont joined Migrant Justice, VAAP and lawmakers including Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sen. Rebecca White and Rep. Leonora Dodge at a press event to promote S.209 and S.208—state measures to expand “sensitive‑location” protections and prohibit officers from concealing their identity. An ICE operation in South Burlington on March 11, 2026 triggered hours of protests and a standoff, prompting Gov. Phil Scott to describe the federal action as “totally unnecessary,” and earlier on Jan. 30, 2026 the Vermont House passed a resolution backing Scott’s call for a pause on federal enforcement operations. (vtdigger.org) Vermont’s refugee‑resettlement infrastructure includes USCRI Vermont and partner agencies — Lutheran Social Services of New England, Catholic Charities Vermont, and the International Institute of New England — which handle arrivals from countries including Bhutan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Iraq, Russia, Somalia, Syria and Ukraine. (refugees.org) The federal proposal led by Rep. Andy Ogles would broaden “good moral character” vetting to require enhanced background checks, social‑media reviews and in‑person interviews and would eliminate the diversity‑visa lottery that issues 55,000 visas annually. (ogles.house.gov) A companion measure introduced March 17, 2026 would bar admission of nationals and recent residents of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen and would extend the ban to anyone who lived in those countries within the previous five years. (newsweek.com)
