New Class Action — VAWA U Visas

Immigrant victims of violent crimes, including vigilante victims and survivors of domestic violence, announced the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of undocumented immigrants living throughout the U.S. demanding that Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), issue visas to immigrant victims of violent crimes who have cooperated with law enforcement investigations or prosecutions of such crimes. In addition to the immigrants filing suit, other parties include organizations around the country that assist immigrant crime victims, including Catholic Charities CYO (San Francisco, CA), International Institute of the East Bay (Oakland, CA), the Voces Unidas Project of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (Los Angeles, CA), the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN- Los Angeles, CA), Hermandad Mexicana Nacional (Los Angeles, CA), Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services (Texas), Friendly House (Arizona), and Sanctuary for Families (New York).

On October 28, 2000—over six years ago—the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (“Crime Victims Act”), was signed into law. Among other things, the Crime Victims Act permits undocumented immigrants who are victims of serious crimes, and who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes, to apply for and receive “U” visas. This law reflects Congress’s judgment that certain crime victims should be permitted to remain lawfully in the United States both for humanitarian reasons and to bring dangerous, violent criminals to justice.

For the complaint, see Download catholic_charities_3607_u_visa_complaint.pdf

KJ