The Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act aims to enhance protections for undocumented immigrants involved in law enforcement investigations. It proposes removing the cap on U and T visas to encourage victims of serious crimes to engage with authorities. Victims would be safeguarded from detention or deportation during case reviews and could obtain work permits. The bill responds to rising applications for U visas in Santa Clara County, where incidents of domestic violence against immigrant women are particularly high due to fear of deportation.
The Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act allows witnesses and victims to trust our criminal justice system, come out of the shadows and forward.
The bill would also protect victims from detention or deportation while their case is under review, allowing them to receive work permits.
Immigrant women are more vulnerable to domestic violence, with abuse rates nearly three times the national average due to fear of deportation.
Santa Clara County has seen a roughly 50% increase in U visa applications since 2020, indicating a growing need for the protections the bill offers.
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