Description
Immigrant victims of crime are often reluctant to call the police for help or to participate in the criminal justice process. In cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking the barriers are compounded, as victims often face immigration-related abuse and threats of deportation. The U and T visa programs were designed to increase offender accountability by helping prosecutors stabilize victims, thereby increasing their safety and participation. Participants will learn prosecution best practice in the context of immigrant victim and offender dynamics, including the benefits of early U and T visa certification, ethical and legal responsibilities related to discovery in the context of federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) confidentiality, pretrial motions, and trial strategies to combat common defenses in cases involving immigrant victims of crime.
Training Materials for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors (August 4, 2025)
Technical Assistance
If you would like to receive technical assistance, please call NIWAP at (202) 274-4457 or email us at info@niwap.org.
Technical Assistance and Training Flyer – Law Enforcement and Prosecutors (September 27, 2021) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ta-flyer-lea
Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Round Tables:
NIWAP offers Virtual Roundtables peer-to-peer learning opportunities exclusively for officials and staff working for law enforcement and prosecution agencies to sign up go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RT2022Registeration
NIWAP’s roundtables are led by law enforcement and prosecutor faculty, offer an opportunity for peer to peer learning, can be joined on-line of by conference call, and provide ongoing training and technical assistance to officers and staff at law enforcement and prosecution agencies. When you sign up you choose the list exclusively open to staff working at law enforcement and prosecution agencies. You can also elect to sign up for NIWAP’s general outreach list to receive notices of trainings, webinars, new materials, resources and policies.
Law Enforcement, Prosecutor and Systems-Based Victim Advocate Podcast Series
For law enforcement and prosecutors on best practices and special issues that arise in working with immigrant victims. Includes discussions with law enforcement and prosecutor experts on the U visa and the T visa.
Forms of Immigration Relief and Screening Tools
DHS Interactive Infographic on Protections for Immigrant Victims
DHS Brochure: Immigration Options for Victims of Crime
Sample Questions for Identifying a Trafficked/Enslaved Person
Prosecutor’s Tools
Victim Witness Resource – Victim Intimidation Brochure (English)
Relevancy of a Victim’s Immigration Status in State Criminal Court Proceedings (August 24, 2022)
Certifying Early: When Should You Sign a U or T Visa Certification for a Victim?
Model U Visa Certification for Prosecutor’s Offices
- Hennepin County Attorney’s Office U Visas and T Visas Certification Policy (Full Policy) (January 8, 2024)
- Hennepin County Attorney’s Office U Visas and T Visas Certification Policy (March 7, 2024)
U and T Visas
Maryland U Visa Certification Statute (October 1, 2025)
U-Visa Checklist: “Helpfulness”
USCIS, U Visa Certification Resource Guide (February 28, 2022)
USCIS, T Visa Certification Resource Guide (October 20, 2021)
DHS: U and T Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide
Stories from the Field: The Crime Fighting Effectiveness of the U Visas (August 23, 2021)
VAWA Confidentiality and Discovery
Quick Reference Guide for Prosecutors: U Visa and VAWA Confidentiality Related Case Law
Three Prongs of VAWA Confidentiality
Family Court Bench Card on VAWA Confidentiality
VAWA Confidentiality and Discovery Cases (October 18, 2022)
How VAWA Confidentiality Impacts Discovery in Cases Involving Immigrant Survivors
Discovery and Use of Immigration Information in Court Checklist
NM Supreme Court Rules that Visa Application of Crime Victims are Protected from Disclosure 2025
Decision and Order on Sanctuary’s Motion to Quash Subpoena — State v. Jun Du (September 27, 2024)
2025 Department of Homeland Security Policies
Letter that Promote ICE Compliance with 2025 Policies and Statutes
Memo Enforcement Actions In or Near Protected Areas (January 20, 2025)
VAWA Confidentiality – Immigration Protected Locations for Victims 8 U.S.C. §1229(e): Certification of Compliance in Removal (describing protected locations for immigrant victims with regard to immigration enforcement)
Trauma Informed Work with Immigrant Survivors
Structured Interview Questionnaires for Immigrant Cases (SIQI) (July 23, 2024)
Maryland Public Benefits
Interactive Public Benefits Map
Detained Parents Directive and Factsheet
ICE Detained Parent Fact Sheet for Child Welfare and Guardianship Stakeholder (July 2025)
Facilitating Visits Between Parents in ICE Custody and Minor Children (July 2025)