New Immigration Policy for Noncitizen Crime Victims in Hennepin County

Last month, the Hennepin County Attorney’s office announced a new policy that will ease and hasten the process of acquiring both U and T visas for noncitizen crime victims. To address the fear of deportation that keeps many noncitizens from reporting crimes, it is hoped the new guidelines will encourage those who may be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking, to contact authorities and seek help. Regardless of where a crime occurred, all noncitizens living in Hennepin County are eligible and the county attorney's office will now certify the case within 30 days of when it’s reported, whether or not it becomes a criminal case. Certification papers from a law enforcement agency are needed for visa applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) supports the new policy, and Veena Iyer, executive director of ILCM, said, "Being victimized by a crime is traumatic, and particularly so for new American survivors who often worry that they will be separated from their families if they report the crime. The U and T visas are critical tools for eliminating these fears and keeping our communities safe." Read the full Star Tribune article.