**B Stands for Backlog**

Good afternoon,

When undocumented immigrants are the victims of crime, they may hesitate
to report the crime to law enforcement out of fear of deportation. The U
visa

program was created in October 2000 to protect immigrants who are
victims of a qualifying crime and cooperate with law enforcement in an
investigation. Receiving a U visa can save immigrants from having to
return to dangerous situations in their home countries and allow them to
rebuild their lives in the United States.

However, the program has suffered from processing delays and
restrictions. Congress set a cap for only 10,000 U visas to be granted
each year. According to data from USCIS
,
this cap has been reached every year since 2010, as many more
applications are received than can be processed. This has created a
significant backlog: over 160,000 U visa applications are currently
pending review.

Last week, USCIS instituted a new policy called the Bona Fide
Determination

process, which will benefit immigrants waiting for a decision on their
applications. U visa petitions will now be initially screened to
determine if the claim has been made in good faith, or without intention
of fraud. Approved applicants will be able to access employment
authorization and a grant of deferred action much sooner than the
current wait time of five years.

Members of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) have
praised the new policy,
including Sheriff Margaret Mims of Fresno County, CA, a co-chair of the
group, who stated: "The recent changes to the U visa program are a step
in the right direction. Providing immigrant crime victims with work
permits and deportation relief while their cases are pending will
strengthen law enforcement's ability to cooperate with immigrant
populations and make our communities safer."

While this policy alone will not eliminate the backlog of pending U visa
applications - it is up to Congress increase the cap on U Visas - it is
an improvement that will encourage immigrant crime victims to cooperate
with law enforcement by providing access to immigration relief more
quickly. A greater sense of trust in law enforcement, and the
immigration system, will make all of our communities safer.

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Adam

**Adam Estle**
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

P.S. Some good news: the Biden administration has announced that they
will relocate tens of thousands of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)
applicants who have aided U.S. forces to ensure their safety as American
troops withdraw from Afghanistan. Click here to
send a message to President Biden, both thanking his administration and
urging him to save

**all** of our Afghan allies through programs such as humanitarian
parole. 

**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**

**NEW YORK TIMES:**U.S. to Move Afghans Who Aided Troops to Third
Countries

**ASSOCIATED PRESS:**US gives more asylum-seekers waiting in Mexico
another shot

**AXIOS:**Scoop: White House eyes ending migrant family expulsion by
July 31

**REUTERS:**Migrant children report overcrowding, spoiled food,
depression in U.S. shelters

**BAPTIST NEWS GLOBAL:**She's pro-life and pro-immigrant and trying to
bring other evangelical women along

 

Donate Now

 

**Follow Us**

 

[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

 

 

 

The

**Only in America** podcast brings you to the people behind our
nation's immigration debate.

 

Listen now on:

 

**iTunes**
,
**Stitcher**
,
**Spotify** ,
and **more.**

 

 

National Immigration Forum

10 G Street NE, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20002

www.immigrationforum.org

 

Unsubscribe from BBB emails here.
Or opt-out from all Forum emails.

 

                                               
           
_________________

Sent to [email protected]

Unsubscribe:
[link removed]

National Immigration Forum, 10 G St NE, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20002, United States