During this webinar, we will explore challenges in prosecution when it comes to immigration in domestic violence cases. Our speaker will discuss the reasons why immigration relief exists for victims of crime, and explore how offenders may be held accountable by using the United States nonimmigrant visa, “U-Visa” certification process as a crime-fighting tool. Our speaker will strategize how immigration issues can be addressed at trial to further enhance victim safety and participation in the criminal justice system.
Training Materials
Know Your Rights Information
• DHS Interactive Infographic on Protections for Immigrant Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhs-protections1-6-links-121516
• DHS Brochure: Immigration Options for Victims of Crime https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-options-victims-of-crimes
• Multilingual Materials for Victims and Advocates https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/topic/multilingual-materials-language/
• Pathways to Immigration Relief for Students https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/screening-students-for-immigraitonprotections/
• Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-Based Visa
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/marriage-based-legal-rights
• Immigration Relief for Abused Children https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uscis_sijs_brochure
Prosecutor’s Tools Enhancing Work With Immigrant Crime Victims
• What’s Immigration Status Got to Do with It? https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pretrial-strategies-7-24-17-final-with-logos/
Prosecution Strategies for Cases Involving Undocumented Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pretrial-strategies-7-24-17-final-with-logos/
• VAWA Confidentiality and Criminal Cases: How Prosecutors Should Respond to Discovery Attempts for Protected Information https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/discovery-and-vawa-confidentiality-tool-final7-24-17/
• Certifying Early: When Should You Sign a U or T Visa Certification for a Victim? https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/certifying-early-7-24-17-final-w-logo/
• Quick Reference Guide for Prosecutors: U Visa and VAWA Confidentiality Related Case Law https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/quick-reference-guide-for-prosecutors-u-visaand-vawa-confidentiality/
• Family Court Bench Card on VAWA Confidentiality https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/family-court-bench-card-vawa-confidentiality
VAWA Confidentiality
• VAWA Confidentiality Statutes, Legislative History and Implementing Policy (2.23.17) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-confidentiality-statutes-leg-history/
• Three Prongs of VAWA Confidentiality https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/conf-vawa-bro-3prongsofconfidentiality/
• Chapter 3 of Empowering Survivors: VAWA Confidentiality, History, Purpose, DHS Implementation, and Violations of VAWA Confidentiality Protections https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch3-vawa-confidentiality-history-purpose/
• Utilizing VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Family Court Proceedings** https://www.civicresearchinstitute.com/online/article.php?pid=6&iid=1270\
• VAWA Self-Petitioning Timeline with Background Checks https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/3f-vawa-timeline-3-29-19/
• Quick Reference Guide for Judges: VAWA Confidentiality & Discovery Related Case Law https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/judges-vawa-confidentiality-cases-anddiscovery/
• VAWA Confidentiality Protections, Courthouse Enforcement, and Sensitive Locations Policies at a Glance https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-protections-in-state-courts-and-cases/
• Quick reference: VAWA Confidentiality Protections – Quoting Statutes Regulations and Department of Homeland Security Policies https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/federal-law-quotes-vawa-confidentialityprotections_3-29-19/
U and T Visas
• DHS: U and T Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhs-updated-u-certification-resource-guide2015
• U-Visa Toolkit for Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutors https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisatoolkit-police-prosecutors
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2018 Resolution on Education and Awareness of U and T Visa Certifications https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/iacp-support-for-education-and-awareness-onu-visa-certifications-and-t-visa-declarations/
• Model Policy for Interactions with Immigrant Victims of Crime and Human Trafficking & Signing of U Visa Certifications and T Visa Declarations https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/proposed-model-u-visa-policy/
• Discussion Paper for Model Policy for Working with Immigrant Victims of Crime and Human Trafficking & Signing of U Visa Certifications and T Visa Declarations https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/discussion-paper-model-policy-u-visacertification-may-2016/
• USCIS U Visa Certification Factsheet Q&A https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-relief-victims-trafficking-and-other
• Blue Campaign: What You Can Do- Recognizing and Supporting Trafficking Victims in the Courtroom https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/bc-pamphlet-judicial-english
• U-Visa Flow Chart https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisaflowchart/
• T-Visa Flow Chart https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/t-visa-application-flowchart
• U-Visa Family Member Sponsors https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-family-member
• T-Visa Family Member Sponsors https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/t-visa-family-member
• DHS Policy Answers to Law Enforcement Reasons for Not Certifying https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhs-answers-to-reasons-for-not-certifying
• U Visa News Articles https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-news-articles/
• U-Visa Checklist: “Helpfulness” https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-helpfulness-chcklist
• Glossary of Terms https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-tools-bjaglossoryofterms
• U Visa Certifications: Range of Potential Certifiers https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-range-of-potential-fcertifiers
• U-Visa Legal Advocacy: Overview of Effective Policies and Practices https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-collaboration-policy-brief/ • Press Release on the U Visa – Template https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-qref-policedeptstraining
• U Visa Resource List https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/resource-list-with-logo
• U Visa Certification Tool Kit for Federal, State, and Local Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates, and Other Judicial Officers (2017) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-certification-tool-kit-federal-statelocal-judges-magistrates
• Sample Questions for Identifying a Trafficked/Enslaved Person https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/questions-for-identifying-trafficked-orenslaved-persons/
• Promoting Access to Justice for Immigrant Crime Victims and Children: Findings of a National Judicial Survey and Recommendations https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/trends-in-state-courts-survey-findings/
• 2017 New U and T Visa Application and Certification Forms (January and February 2017) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/2017-u-cert-forms/
• U Visa Timeline with Background Checks https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-timeline/
• Tip Sheet for Courts Developing U Visa Certification Protocols https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/wp-content/uploads/Tips-for-Courts-U-Visa-CertProtocols-Policies.pdf
• T Visa Timeline with Background Checks https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/t-visa-timeline/
Forms
• DHS: Instructions for Form I-914, Supplement B https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/i-916-supplement-b-instructions
• DHS: Form I-914, Supplement B for T visa Endorsement https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/i-914-supplement-b-instructions • DHS: Form I-918, Supplement B, for U visa Certification https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/i918-supb-certification
• DHS: Instructions for Form I-918, Supplement B, for U visa Certification https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/instructions-i1918-unonimm-status
U Visa as a Crime-fighting Tool
• Stories From the Field: The Crime Fighting Effectiveness of the U Visa (August 27, 2020) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-crime-fighting-stories
• The Importance of the U-visa as a Crime-Fighting Tool for Law Enforcement Officials – Views from Around the Country https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-crime-fighting-tool
• Overcoming Fear and Building Trust With Immigrant Communities and Crime Victims (Police Chief Magazine April 2018) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/policechief_april-2018_building-trustimmigrant-victims/
• Protecting Our Communities and Officer Safety https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/may_june_sheriff
• COPS Dispatch Article: The U visa: An important tool for Community Policing https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-community-policing-tool/
• How Law Enforcement Is Using the U-Visa Practice Brief https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-qref-uvisapracticebrief-10-11
• State U Visa Certification Laws https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/state-u-visa-certification-laws/
• U and T Visa Certifications and Certification Reporting Requirements in California: https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ca-t-u-reporting-requirements
• Bench Card: U and T Visa Certification Reporting Requirements in California: https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ca-bench-card-u-t-reporting
Forms of Immigration Relief
• Bench Card: Overview of Types of Immigration Status https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/bchcrd-immstatustypes • Family Court Bench Card on Immigration Rights of Battered Spouses, Children and Immigrant Crime Victims https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/judg-tkit-bchcrdvictimsimmrights10-11-13
• Blue Card: Screening for Victims Who Qualify for Immigration Protective Relief (Squad Car Screening Tool) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/screening-tool-victims-qualify
• Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victim, Witnesses and Plaintiffs https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/discretion-victims-witnesses-plaintiffs/
Screening Tools and Collaboration
• Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the US and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-based Visa https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/marriage-based-legal-rights
• Brochure: Continued Presence & Temporary Immigration Status for Victims of Human Trafficking https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/continued-presence-temp-imm-status
• Immigrant and LEP Victims’ Access to the Criminal Justice System https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/importance-of-collaboration-victims
• U Visa Legal Advocacy: Overview of Effective Policies and Practices https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/uvisa-collaboration-policy-brief • Building Trusting Relationships: A Guide for Advocates/Attorneys Working with Law Enforcement (LE) on U-Visa Certification Issues (Flow Chart) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/advocate-law-enforcement-guide
• Comparison Chart of U visa, T Visa, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self Petition, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/chart-vawa-t-u-sijs-daca/
Language Access
• Code of Conduct for Court Interpreters- Washington State Interpreters Program https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/lang-lawpol-interpconductcode1986/
• Questions to Use for Crime Scene Identification of LEP https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/crime-scene-identification-of-lep-persons
• Dos and Don’ts to Help Identify LEP Persons https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dos-and-donts-to-identify-lep-persons
• Language Identification Card – DeKalb County Magistrate Court’s Compliance Project, Caminar Latino, Men Stopping Violence, Raksha, Inc, Tapestri, Inc, and Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/language-id-card-19010116-raksha-pdf/
• Laws Governing Law Enforcement Agency Provision of Language Assistance to LEP Persons https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/laws-governing-langauge-access
• Important Tips to Remember When Using an Interpreter https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/interpretation-tips
• NAJIT Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/najitcodeofethicsfinal
• U.S. Department of Justice Sample Limited English Proficiency Guidelines from Office of Justice Programs “Center City Police Department” https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/sample-limited-english-proficiencyguidelines-from-the-office-of-justice-programs
• Steps for Obtaining Interpreters https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/step-for-obtaining-interpreters
• Tips for Working Effectively with Telephone Interpreters https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-qref-workingwithtelephoneinterp
• Are you Compliant with Title VI Self-Assessment Tool https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/self-assessment-tool-title-vi • Why Using an Interpreter is Beneficial to Law Enforcement https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/law-enforcement-benefits-of-qualifiedinterpreters
• DOJ Letter to State Chief Justices and State Court Administrators on Access for Limited English Proficient Persons to State Court Proceedings https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/lang-access-doj-courts-letter
• Judicial Bench Card for Court Interpretation https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ncsc-bench-card-language-access
• Serving Limited English Proficient Immigrant Victims** https://www.civicresearchinstitute.com/online/article.php?pid=6&iid=12699
VAWA Self-Petition
• VAWA Self-Petitioning Flow Chart for Child Applicants https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-flow-chart-child/
• Flowchart: VAWA Self-Petitioning Eligibility for Elder Abuse Survivors https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioner-elder-abuse-flow-chart-617-19-pdf/
• Flowchart: VAWA Self-Petitioning Eligibility for Adults https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioner-flow-chart-for-adults-617-19-pdf/
• Battering or Extreme Cruelty: Drawing Examples from Civil Protection Order and Family Law Cases https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/extreme-cruelty-examples-protection-order-2/
• VAWA Self-Petitioning Introduction and Flow Charts https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioning-intro-and-flow-chartspdf/
Public Benefits
• State by State Demographics https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/demographics/
• State by State Public Benefits Charts https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts/
• Interactive State Benefits Map https://map.niwap.org/
• Guide to the Public Benefits Map https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/guide-to-public-benefits-map/
• Privacy Protections for Immigrants Applying for Public Benefits https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/privacy-protections-reporting-and-publicbenefits/
• Anti-Discrimination Provisions That Apply to Programs Receiving Federal Funding Services Victims of Violence Against Women Crimes https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-tool-antidiscrimlaws/
• Programs Open to Immigrant Victims and All Immigrants Without Regard to Immigration Status https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/programs-open-to-all-immigrants/
**If you have difficulty accessing this publication please contact for assistance NIWAP at (202) 274-4457 or info@niwap.org