Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2022-1416

• Record #: R2022-1416
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Failed to Pass
• Intro date: 12/14/2022
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: Joint Committee: Public Safety; Immigrant and Refugee Rights
• Final action: 5/24/2023
• Title: Call for hearing(s) on status of U Nonimmigrant Status certifications within City of Chicago
• Sponsors: Lopez, Raymond A., Hopkins, Brian , Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Sawyer, Roderick T., Harris, Michelle A., Beale, Anthony, Lee, Nicole T. , Quinn, Marty, Burke, Edward M., Coleman, Stephanie D. , Moore, David H., Curtis, Derrick G., O'Shea, Matthew J., Taylor, Jeanette B. , Brookins, Jr., Howard, Rodriguez, Michael D., Tabares, Silvana, Scott, Monique L. , Sigcho-Lopez, Byron, Maldonado, Roberto, Taliaferro, Chris, Cardona, Jr., Felix , Waguespack, Scott, Rodriguez Sanchez, Rossana , Austin, Carrie M., Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos, Villegas, Gilbert, Mitts, Emma, Vasquez, Jr., Andre, Napolitano, Anthony V., Reilly, Brendan, Knudsen, Timothy R., Tunney, Thomas, Gardiner, James M. , Cappleman, James, Martin, Matthew J. , Osterman, Harry, Hadden, Maria E. , Abarca, Anabel
• Topic: CITY DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES - Law, - CITY DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES - Police, COMMITTEE/PUBLIC HEARINGS - Joint Committee - Immigrant & Refugee Rights and Public Safety

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
5/24/2023		City Council	Failed to Pass
12/14/2022	58865	City Council	Referred

Title:

Committee(s) Assignment:

Call for hearing(s) on status of U Nonimmigrants Status

certifications within City of Chicago

Joint Committee: Public Safety; Immigrant and Refugee

Rights

Joint Committee on Public Safety, Immigration & Refugee Rights

City Council Meeting December 14, 2022

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The United States of America Citizenship and Immigration Services permits the issuance of U-Visa status to undocumented individuals who are victims of certain crimes, suffered mental or physical abuse, and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity; and,

WHEREAS, The federal legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies, such as the Chicago Police Department, to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of noncitizens and other crimes, while also protecting victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the crime and are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity; and,

WHEREAS, The United States of America Citizenship and Immigration Services considers the following to be qualifying Criminal Activities as suitable grounds for eligibility: abduction, abusive sexual contact, blackmail, domestic violence, extortion, false imprisonment, female genital mutilation, felonious assault, fraud in foreign labor contracting, hostage, incest, involuntary servitude, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, obstruction of justice, peonage, perjury, prostitution, rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, slave trade, stalking, torture, trafficking, witness tampering, unlawful criminal restraint, and other substantially similar crimes; and,

WHEREAS, The Chicago Police Department's Records Inquiry Section (Unit 163) is responsible for the adjudication of U-Visa applications submitted to the department and does not track certification applications submitted, approved and/or rejected by the unit; and,

WHEREAS, According to a recent report by Injustice Watch, the Police Department has denied at least 800 certifications in the last two years as opposed to Los Angeles and New York City denied less than 350 and 150 request in 2021 respectively; and,

WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Chicago have reaffirmed its commitment on numerous times to be a Welcoming City to those undocumented individuals seeking refuge from the harms of their homeland; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, that the Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Immigration & Refugee Rights hold joint hearings with the Chicago Police Department and the Law Department to discuss the status of U Nonimmigrant Status certifications within the City of Chicago, its policies and protocols for approval or denial, the collection of data, and the ability of the department to genuinely assist those most vulnerable needing our assistance in accessing a federal certification.

Alderman Daniel La Spata/l^st Ward

T7 I

Alderman Brian Hopkins, ^Ward

Alderman LeslieJHairston, 5^th Ward

Alderman Roderick Sawytff, 6^th Ward

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Alderman Michelle Harris, 8^th Ward

Alder/iiari Anthony Beale, 9^th Ward

Alderman Gregory I. Mitchell, 7^th Ward

Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10^th Ward

Alderman Marty

Alderman Fati iik LrThompfon 11^th Ward

Aldetman Edward Ivt. Burke7l4^th Ward

Alderman Derrick Curtis, 18^th Ward Alderman Matt CTSfcei, 19^th Ward

Alderman Roberto Maldonado, 26^th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., 27^th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin, 28^th Ward Alderman Christopher Taliaferro, 29^th Ward Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras, 30^th Ward

IrT^i^Ward

Aldermajj-S€ott//vaguespack, 32^nd Ward

Alderman T^ossaTfa'Rodriguez - Sanchez, 33^rd Ward Alderman Carrie M. Austin, 34^th Ward

Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35^th Ward

                     XAt^                     

Aide/man Emma Mitts, 37^th Ward

Aldermarv<3ilbert Villegas, 36^th Ward

Alderman Nicholas Sposato, 38^th Ward

Alderman Samantha Nugent, 39^th Ward

/^Alderman James M. Gardiner, 45^th Ward

Alderman James Cappleman, 46^th Ward

Alderman Harry OSterman, 48^th Ward Aid^r^n^^^^^a^^n^^Wa^rT"

Alderman Debra Silverstein, 50^th Ward