Thousands
of more victims of crime are speaking up thanks to the U-visa. The
increasing number of cases are leading to more arrests.
Thousands
of undocumented immigrants including mothers and children, victims of
sexual abuse and domestic violence, are receiving U-visas every year.
This allows them to stay and work in the US legally for up to four
years and help law enforcement prosecute the criminal.
Amarillo
Immigration Lawyer Shilpa Shah says, "They're scared to come
forward, but, you know, there comes a point in time when I think they
realize that for their safety, or the safety of their children, they
have to come forward. And in those situations, I have seen the
perpetrators who are either US Citizens, or green card holders, they
do eventually go to jail."
Last
year more than 20,000 immigrants applied for this visa, but only
10,000 are available annually. Shah
says, "It's definitely getting more utilized. And part of that
is that there's more education of the U-visa within communities."
And if signed into law by the president, the new version of the
U-visa will expand to protect victims of stalking.
Before
applying, they must be certified by police, a judge or district
attorney. Shah says, "Sometimes you get the resistance from the
law enforcement side because they don't want to open up the flood
gates, and have people claim that they're victims of some sort of
crime whether it's legitimate or something that someone creates."
But
local attorneys say usually by the time they're pending approval,
most people are already safe from the criminal. Shah says, "The
offender has gone through his court date, his or her court date. And
they've already been convicted. They could be behind bars."
Jessica
Abuchaibe, NewsChannel 10.
