New U.S. immigration policy to expand work permits to crime victims

A new immigration policy was announced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  on Monday that it will expand access to work permits and deportation relief to some immigrants who are crime victims. This would further allow thousands of applicants access to work permits while their visa cases are pending if their claims are deemed to be made in good faith and without the intention of defrauding the immigration system.

The move is a part of America now reversing many of the restrictionist policies of Republican former President Donald Trump. Democratic President Joe Biden has pledged to make the U.S. immigration system more humane and flexible as said by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that it would both help victims and promote public safety, “These are individuals who have come forward to help law enforcement keep us all safe, but who are in need of a measure of protection for themselves, as well,” he said.

The United States offers 10,000 U visas annually to immigrants who are victims of certain crimes and these documents provide access to a work permit and the ability to apply for permanent residence after three years. But due to high demand since USCIS is currently considering nearly 269,000 U visa applicants, according to agency data current to December- means applicants currently wait at least five years until they can receive work authorization.

To qualify for the permit, the person must be a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other serious crimes, however, still, the number of U visa applicants who will qualify for work permits under the new policy remains unclear.