Immigrant Support: Violence Survivor Protection & Legal Facilitation
This act aims to ease immigration status acquisition for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse. Changes include expanding access to U visas, removing visa caps for certain victims, and providing faster work authorization. Additionally, the act introduces protection from deportation for individuals awaiting humanitarian relief decisions and ensures access to basic benefits for legally present immigrants.
Key points
Expanding the definition of qualifying crimes for U visas (for crime victims) to include civil violations, hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse.
Eliminating the annual numerical cap on U visas, meaning more victims of violence can obtain protection.
Expediting work authorization for applicants of U visas, T visas (for human trafficking victims), and VAWA self-petitioners (for domestic violence victims).
Introducing a prohibition on detaining immigrants with pending humanitarian status applications, unless they pose a public safety risk.
Restricting immigration enforcement actions in 'protected areas' (e.g., schools, hospitals, churches, domestic violence shelters) unless exigent circumstances exist.
Facilitating access to basic federal benefits (e.g., nutrition programs, healthcare) for legally present immigrants by removing previous barriers.
Providing protection from removal for violence survivors awaiting adjudication of their immigration status applications.
Allowing children who age out during their parents' immigration process to retain child status in certain cases.
Expired
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