Information provided by Office of Rep. Jimmy Panetta. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
United States Representative Jimmy Panetta authored and reintroduced legislation, the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, that would remove barriers for undocumented immigrant victims and witnesses who may be eligible for protection under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and other federal laws.
Immigrant women and children are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence, and the rate of abuse against immigrant women is nearly 49 percent, three times the national average. While domestic violence is a consistently underreported issue, immigrant survivors are significantly less likely to report these crimes due to fear of deportation.
U and T visas are available to undocumented immigrants who are victims of crime, abuse, or human trafficking and who cooperate with law enforcement. Current caps on the number of available visas, a backlog in visa processing, and unclear protections are hindering the reach of this program and the work of law enforcement to bring criminals to justice.
The Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act would lift these arbitrary caps and prevent victim applicants from being detained or deported prior to obtaining immigration protections provided by those types of visas or protections under VAWA. Additionally, the bill allows applicants to be issued work authorization permits within a statutory timeline, making them less vulnerable to re-victimization or exploitation.
“Too many non-citizen victims and witnesses of crimes are afraid to step out of the shadows and participate in our justice system,” said Rep. Panetta. “This legislation would remove obstacles for these undocumented individuals to cooperate with law enforcement without the risk of being detained or deported. As a former prosecutor, I know that strengthening trust with our immigrant communities is essential to public safety for us all and ensuring criminals are brought to justice.”
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