Human Rights Watch Report: "We Need U": How the U Visa Builds Trust, Counters Fear, and Promotes Community Safety
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics undercut protection for undocumented crime survivors and weakens law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute crimes, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The report, “‘We Need U’: How the U Visa Builds Trust, Counters Fear, and Promotes Community Safety,” finds that the administration’s deportation policies undermine federal visa programs that provide a pathway for crime victims to obtain legal residency when they cooperate with law enforcement. Changed enforcement guidance, such as allowing Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to apprehend people in previously safe places like courthouses and health centers, is a strong deterrent for immigrants who might otherwise report crime to police or seek a protective order.
