In May 2010, Legal Momentum and the Vera Institute of Justice held a two-day training in Washington, DC, about the U-visa. Personnel from 13 law enforcement agencies participated, learning how to use this type of visa, which provides legal immigration status for victims of crime who cooperate with law enforcement, and how its use can help improve public safety.

Participating agencies:

• Alexandria (VA) Police Department
• Appleton (WI) Police Department
• Austin (TX) Police Department
• Boise (ID) Police Department
• City of La Crosse (WI) Police Department
• Lexington County (SC) Sheriff’s Department
• Metropolitan Nashville (TN) Police Department
• Metropolitan (DC) Police Department
• Multnomah County (OR) Sheriff’s Office
• Salem (MA) Police Department
• San Francisco (CA) Police Department
• Storm Lake (IA) Police Department
• Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office

The training was the first of 13. We have since completed trainings in the following cities: San Francisco, CA; Appleton, WI; Hilo, HI; San Antonio, TX; Spokane, WA; Alexandria, VA; and Edison, NJ. These trainings focus on issues important to officers’ understanding and use of the U-visa, including:

• the U-visa certification process;
• enhancing officers’ capacity to work with immigrant victims;
• the U-visa application procedure; and
• reasons that law enforcement agents may not be signing U-visa certifications.

The National Immigrant Victims’ Access to Justice Partnership has also developed a tool kit for law enforcement that includes training modules and other materials related to the U-visa, such as a model policy and a FAQ sheet. 

Community members or law enforcement officials who are interested in learning more about future trainings or hosting one should contact Leslye Orloff or Susan Shah.