[pdf] Federal Register: New Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons (+)

This rule is intended to assist all concerned Federal officials, including, but not limited to, officials of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service), and eligible applicants, in implementing provisions of section 107(e) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA).

[pdf] Memorandum Regarding Deferred Action for Aliens with Bona Fide Applications for T Nonimmigrant Status (+)

Memorandum outlining changes in Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) procedures for deferred action determinations on behalf of victims of severe forms of trafficking whose applications for T nonimmigrant status have been determined to be bona fide but are still awaiting final adjudication by the Vermont Service Center (VSC).

[pdf] Brochure: Immigration Remedies for Trafficking Victims (+)

What is trafficking in persons? What federal laws prohibit trafficking in persons? Is there any immigration relief available for victims of severe forms of trafficking who lack Immigration status in the Unites States? What is a T nonimmigrant visa and who can apply for one? What is a U nonimmigrant visa and who can apply for one?

[pdf] Finding Victims of Human Trafficking (+)

NORC Final Report responding to a congressional mandate to (1) identify victims and potential victims of domestic trafficking; (2) determine whether victims have been identified as such by law enforcement; and (3) explore differences between sex trafficking and unlawful commercial sex. It examines human trafficking experiences
among a random sample of 60 counties across the United States.

[pdf] Evidence Checklist for Immigrant Victims Applying for the Crime Victim Visa (+)

Under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (“VTVPA”), battered noncitizens and other crime victims may be eligible for a nonimmigrant visa, the U Visa. This form of relief, if granted, gives the applicant immediate legal status as a nonimmigrant and possible lawful permanent residence in the long-term. The following is a list of the requirements that must be met by an applicant, and some suggestions of evidence that may be offered to meet each requirement. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is required to consider “any credible evidence” in its adjudication of an applicant’s case. The suggested evidentiary documents in this memo are meant to be guidelines, and not exhaustive descriptions of the types of evidence that may be offered to support an application under the U Visa.

[pdf] Form I-918 Supplement B: U Nonimmigrant Status Certification (December, 2021) (+)

In March of 2017 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services released a new U Visa Certification Form for to be used by law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, commissioners, magistrates, the EEOC, the Department of Labor and other U visa certifying agencies. Form I-918 Supplement B: U Nonimmigrant Status Certification

[pdf] WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations For Interviewing Trafficked Women (+)

These recommendations provide a set of ten basic standards for interviewing women who are in or have left a trafficking situation. The significance of each issue is explained and examples are offered of how, in practice, each can be addressed. The recommendations should not be taken as a comprehensive guide to working with women who have been trafficked.

[pdf] Barriers and Successes in U Visas for Immigrant Victims: The Experiences of Legal Assistance for Victims Grantees (July 23, 2014) (+)

The paper focuses on problems, successes, and creative solutions reported by attorneys and advocates working with immigrant victims eligible to receive crime victim U visas under federal immigration laws. Victims applying for U visa immigration relief must, under current law, submit a U visa certification signed by the head of a law enforcement agency, prosecutor, judge, or other government official with their U visa application. This research provides information regarding effective strategies and best practices used by grantees that are successful in obtaining U visa certification. The systemic barriers that immigrant victims and their advocates encounter when working with U visa are also discussed, along with creative solutions grantees are using to overcome these barriers.

[pdf] Human Trafficking PowerPoint (+)

Learning Objectives: Begin to identify individuals who may be trafficked;Develop interviewing and trust-building techniques to work with trafficking victims;Take steps to expand your organization’s services and/or collaboration to serve trafficking victims;Learn effective strategies for collaboration with law enforcement and other systems to assist victims.

[pdf] Guidance on Adjudicating Stay Requests Filed by U Nonimmigrant Status (+)

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Memorandum providing guidance to the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations Directors about factors to consider when adjudicating requests for a Stay of a Final Administrative Order of Removal filed by an alien with a pending petition for U nonimmgrant status (U-Visa).

[pdf] Fact Sheet: Certifying U Nonimmigrant status (+)

Fact sheet on certifying U nonimmigrant status using the I-918 form and supplement B. An alien victim of criminal activity may file for U Nonimmigrant Status – status set aside for victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse because of the activity and who also are willing to assist law enforcement agencies or government officials in the investigation of that activity.

[pdf] Extension of U Nonimmigrant Status for Derivative Family Members Using the Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (+)

Policy memorandum authorizing the Vermont Service Center to approve an Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539) to extend U nonimmigrant status for a derivative family member whose initial period of stay is for less than four years.

[pdf] Remedies for Youth, Adolescents, and Young Adult Victims (+)

Power point presentation aimed to train advocates and professionals to better identify different forms of immigration relief available to immigrant youth, understand differences and advantages between victim based immigration remedies for immigrant youth, and to obtain orders from family courts that are either required or helpful for immigration cases filed by immigrant children.

[pdf] Intersection Between Victim Based Immigration Remedies: Advantages, Special Considerations and Protections to Meet the Survivors Needs (+)

Power point presentation aimed to train individuals to better be able to identify survivors of domestic violence and violent crimes and to understand the differences and advantages between the different victim based immigration remedies.

[pdf] Chapter 06: Introduction to Immigrant Relief for Immigration Victims of Sexual Assault and Glossary of Terms (+)

Chapter from “Empowering Survivors: Legal Rights of Immigrant Victims of Sexual Assault” to help advocates and attorneys identify the various forms of immigration relief that may be available to help immigrant victims of sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault may qualify for forms of immigration relief based on their victimization by a family member who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident, they may qualify for other forms of relief based on victimization by a non-family member, and/or they may qualify for other legal immigration status wholly unrelated to the abuse or victimization (e.g. student visas, work visas).

[pdf] USCIS Memorandum: Clarification of Classes of Applicants Eligible for Naturalization under Section 319(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (January 27, 2005) (+)

USCIS Memorandum modifying a previous policy memorandum entitled, “Instructions Regarding the Expanded Meaning of Section 319(a)” to clarify that individuals who obtained lawful permanent residence by reason of an approved waiver of the joint filing requirement under section 216(c)(4)(C) of the INA are also eligible to apply for naturalization.

[pdf] William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008: Changes to T and U Nonimmigrant Status and Adjustment of Status Provisions (+)

USCIS Policy Memorandum to inform immigration services officers who adjudicate petitions for T and U non-immigrant status and related applications for adjustment of status about new legislation affecting the T and U non-immigrant programs.

[pdf] T Visa and U Visa Adjustment to Lawful Permanent Residency Regulations (December 12, 2008) (+)

The Department of Homeland Security is amending its regulations to permit aliens in lawful T or U nonimmigrant status to apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident. This rule provides that family members of a principal T or U nonimmigrant granted or seeking adjustment of status may also apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident. This rule also
provides for adjustment of status or approval of an immigrant petition for certain family members of U applicants who were never admitted to the United States in U nonimmigrant status.

[pdf] Fact Sheet on USCIS’ New Rule for Non-Immigrant Victims of Human Trafficking and Specified Criminal Activity (+)

Congress created the “T” and “U” nonimmigrant classifications with passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in October 2000. The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons and other crimes while, at the same time, offering protection to victims of such crimes. The legislation also helps law enforcement agencies to better serve immigrant crime victims.

[pdf] Disclosure of Certain Information Relating to Criminal Histories of Petitioners to Potential Visa Beneficiaries (+)

USCIS memorandum to provide itnerim guidance to adjudicators regarding when it may be appropriate to disclose certain information relating to a visa petitioner’s criminal history involving violence or sexual offenses to potential visa beneficiaries.

[pdf] 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 (+)

Fact sheet explaining domestic violence and information of the legal rights in the United States for survivors of domestic violence. Also provide information on the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA), which requires that the U.S. Government provide foreign fiancé(e)s and spouses immigrating to the United States with information about their legal rights as well as about the criminal or domestic violence histories of their U.S. citizen fiancé(e)s and spouses.

[pdf] Governmental and Industry Roles and Responsibilities with Regard to International Marriage Brokers: Equalizing the Balance of Power Between Foreign Fiances and Spouses (+)

Journal article detailing the unregulated nature of the international marriage broker (IMB) industry and how it can endanger women. This article (a) provides an overview of the contemporary IMB industry, including a discussion of reasons underlying women’s choices to use IMB agencies to meet and marry U.S.-based spouses, (b) discusses how this industry’s marketing of marriages potentially endangers many women recruits, and (c) offers an update and analysis of new provisions under U.S. immigration law that strengthen protections available for women who immigrate as fiancés and spouses of U.S. citizens.

[pdf] International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005: Agencies Have Implemented Some, but Not All of the Act’s Requirements (+)

This report addresses the extent to which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the Department of State (DOS); and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have implemented IMBRA, and the extent to which USCIS and DOS have collected and maintained data for this GAO report as required by IMBRA. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed the act and related legislation, analyzed IMBRA implementation guidance and available data on applications filed, and interviewed officials at USCIS, DOS, and DOJ.

[pdf] International Matchmaking Organizations: A Report to Congress (+)

This report is in response to the Congressional request under Section 652 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) that the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the Director of the Violence Against Women Office at the Department of Justice, conduct a study of mail-order marriages. The report includes a review of INS records for quantitative data as to the number of marriages facilitated by international matchmaking businesses as well as evidence of domestic violence or marriage fraud in the petitionable relationships which result between U.S. citizens (USCs) or lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and the foreign-born women recruited by these companies. The report also contains a literature review of related topics.

[pdf] DHS Plan to Provide Training to State and Local Law Enforcement in the Secure Communities Program (+)

Overview of the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) series of training /awareness briefings designed primarily for use by front line state and local law enforcement agency (LEA) personnel during daily muster/roll call briefings.

[pdf] Department of Homeland Security: Civil Rights Complaint Form (+)

The purpose of this form is to assist you in filing a civil rights/civil liberties complaint with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) regarding DHS programs and activities. This form is not intended to be used for complaints about employment with DHS. You are not required to use this form to file a complaint; a letter with the same information is sufficient. However, if you file a complaint by letter, you should include the same information that is requested in the form.

[pdf] Practice Advisory: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (+)

Practice advisory aimed towards attorneys and issued by American Immigration Council, National Immigration Project, and American Immigration Lawyers Association regarding general information, eligibility criteria, procedure, employment eligibility, etc. for individuals under DACA.

[pdf] Guidelines for Identifying Humanitarian Concerns Among Administrative Arrestees When Conducting Worksite Enforcement Operations (+)

Cover letter and policy regarding addressing humanitarian concerns regarding nursing mothers, pregnant women, and mothers who are primary caretakers of children during worksite enforcement actions and the considerations for humanitarian release.

[pdf] Clarification of Existing Practices Related to Certain Health Care Information (+)

ICE Memorandum explaining Immigration and Customs Enforcement civil immigration enforcement policy regarding information concerning individuals and members of their household obtained during the eligibility determination process for such coverage under ACA and SSA.

[pdf] Removals Involving Parents of United States Citizen Children (+)

DHS report as one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of our oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the department. This report addresses the number of instances over the past 10 years in which the illegal alien parent of a United States citizen child was removed from the country. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions and a review of applicable documents.

[pdf] Letter to Immigrant Women Program from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Regarding “Rights and Options for Battered Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Women and Immigrant Women Who Met Their Spouses Through International Matchmaking Agencies.” (+)

Letter to Immigrant Women Program from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding Legal Momentum’s draft booklet entitled: “Rights and Options for Battered Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Women and Immigrant Women Who Met Their Spouses Through International Matchmaking Agencies.”

[pdf] Memorandum discussing INS Exercise of Prosecutorial Discretion (+)

This memorandum sets out the legal basis upon which, the Immigration and Naturalization (INS) may exercise prosecutorial discretion in its enforcement activities, including placing aliens in removal proceedings by serving them with Notices to Appear (NTAs). The structure of this memorandum is a series of questions and answers about prosecutorial discretion and the application of the doctrine in INS operations.

[pdf] Executive Summary: Blue Campaign Stakeholder Meeting with Senior Counselor Alice Hill (+)

On December 10, 2010, Alice Hill, Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, hosted a meeting with stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking. The meeting was the second stakeholder meeting of the DHS Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, launched in July of 2010. The Blue Campaign’s mission is “To harness the authorities and resources of the Department of Homeland Security to deter human trafficking by increasing awareness, protecting victims, and contributing to a robust criminal justice response.” The meeting focused on current projects of the Blue Campaign as well as future deliverables. Invitees included representatives from throughout the federal government, state and local law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, foreign governments, the United States Congress, the private sector, and the general public.

[pdf] Kennedy, Delahunt Announce New Guidelines For Immigration Raids (+)

Statement released by Senator Edward Kennedy and Congressman William Delahunt regarding the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Guidelines for Identifying Humanitarian Concerns among Administrative Arrestees When Conducting Worksite Enforcement Operations. The guidelines set forth best practices for quickly identifying persons arrested who are sole caregivers or who should be released from custody for other humanitarian reasons.

[pdf] Adjudication of Immigration Benefits for Transgender Individuals (+)

This policy memorandum (PM) and accompanying revisions to the AFM articulate USCIS policy regarding assigning appropriate gender designations on documents issued to transgender individuals and the adjudication of benefits applications involving the marriage of transgender individuals. This PM supersedes the following: Memorandum for Regional Directors et al, Adjudication of Petitions and Applications Filed by or on Behalf of, or Document Requests by, Transsexual Individuals (April 16, 2004); and, Adjudication of Petitions and Applications Filed by or on Behalf of Transsexual Individuals (January 14, 2009).

[pdf] INS Detention Standard: Non-Medical Emergency Escorted Trips (+)

INS Detention standard operating procedure regarding non-medical emergency escorted trips. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) provides detainees with approved staff escorted trips into the community for the purpose of visiting critically ill members of the detainee’s immediate family, or for attending their funerals.