Press Releases

Moore and Jayapal Lead Colleagues in Efforts to Protect T and U Visa Applicants

Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led their colleagues in a letter calling for Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons to reinstate an ICE directive that protects victims of crimes seeking a T or U visa from immigration enforcement. Traditionally, U and T visa applicants have been protected from immigration enforcement while their case proceeds. However, this Administration’s change in immigration policy has left victims without protection, which only emboldens perpetrators and hurts victims. This letter reaffirms the importance of these visas to law enforcement, local communities and highlights the need to protect individuals seeking these visas.

The Members wrote, “We urge DHS to reinstate ICE Directive 11005.3, Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims to protect T and U visa applicants. We also ask that T and U visa applicants currently in ICE detention be released, consistent with this policy, within 60 days of this letter.”

The Members cited the importance of T and U visas, writing, “Established by the Violence Against Women Act and the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, with overwhelming bipartisan support, T and U visas were designed to strengthen the relationship and build trust between victims of crime and law enforcement. Prosecutors rely on critical eyewitness testimony of immigrant survivors and T and U visa holders to successfully investigate, prosecute, and lock up dangerous perpetrators of crimes that harm all U.S. communities including human trafficking, sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation. These visa programs make everyone in our communities safer; without them, undocumented victims and witnesses might be too scared to come forward to report crimes to the detriment of all.”

“These visa programs make everyone in our communities safer; without them, undocumented victims and witnesses might be too scared to come forward to report crimes to the detriment of all.”

The Members continued, “That is why we urge the Department to immediately reinstate ICE Directive 11005.3, Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims, which clarified that “ICE will refrain from taking enforcement actions against the applicant or petitioner” for a T or U visa in direct service of the program’s purpose.”

Notably, Yessenia Ruano, a constituent of Congresswoman Moore and trafficking victim, sought an emergency stay last month while her T-visa application was reviewed. Her request was denied and she self-deported to El Salvador. Additionally, Ramon Morales Reyes of Milwaukee, was a crime victim who was wrongfully framed for threatening President Trump. He applied for a U-visa before he was detained and later received bond.  

Read the full text of the letter here.