Just two days after Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed a landmark law broadening housing access for immigrants, two members of Migrant Justice, the nonprofit behind the bill, were detained by U.S. Border Patrol. The law, designed to prevent housing discrimination based on immigration status, now faces opposition as advocates continue to fight for its implementation while dealing with the arrest of two key figures.
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New Housing Law for Immigrants
Vermont’s new housing law, signed by Gov. Scott on June 12, 2025, seeks to protect immigrants from housing discrimination. It prohibits landlords from rejecting rental applications based on citizenship or immigration status and bans the requirement of a Social Security number for rental applications. Instead, tenants can provide government-issued IDs or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) as alternatives.
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Detention of Migrant Justice Leaders
Just two days after the law’s passage, Jose Ignacio “Nacho” De LaCruz and his stepdaughter Heidi Perez, both prominent members of Migrant Justice, were detained by ICE in Franklin County, Vermont. The pair were celebrated for their role in advocating for the law, with De LaCruz a leader in the organization and Perez an active campaigner.
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The Bitter Aftermath
The celebration of the new law turned bittersweet as De LaCruz and Perez were taken into federal custody. While they had been instrumental in drafting and promoting the law, their detention highlights the challenges faced by immigrant rights advocates. A federal judge later issued a restraining order to keep them in Vermont while their cases are being processed.
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Provisions of the Law
The law mandates that landlords cannot deny rental applications solely because of the lack of a Social Security number. If an applicant does not have one, they can provide alternative identification such as an unexpired government-issued ID or an ITIN. This change aims to eliminate barriers for immigrants in the housing market, particularly those without formal documentation.
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Migrant Justice’s Advocacy
Migrant Justice, the nonprofit organization pushing for immigrant rights, has been a central force in the creation of this law. As part of the advocacy, they worked with groups like the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont and the Vermont Human Rights Commission. According to Rachel Elliott, the organization’s communications coordinator, many immigrant families have faced housing rejection simply due to the absence of a Social Security number, leading them to unsafe, employer-provided housing.
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Landlord Opposition
The Vermont Landlords Association (VLA) expressed concerns over the new law, arguing that prohibiting Social Security number requirements could complicate credit checks. They also opposed adding immigration status as a protected class, citing potential federal issues. However, supporters of the law, including state Rep. Conor Casey, countered that there are no federal laws preventing landlords from renting to individuals based on immigration status, pointing to similar laws in states like Colorado and Oregon.
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Credit Check Alternatives
Despite concerns from landlords, supporters of the law argue that alternative methods for conducting credit checks without Social Security numbers, such as using platforms like Experian, are widely available and commonly used in states like California. These methods, which do not discriminate based on immigration status, are seen as viable solutions to the issue.
