Upcoming Trainings and Conferences

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—the first of 13—focused 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.

During the next two years, the National Immigrant Victims Access to Justice Partnership will develop and disseminate 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 Kavitha Sreeharsha or Rodolfo Estrada.