OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2023-8
WHEREAS, Chicago is home to nearly 170.000 undocumented immigrants, many of whom unfortunately have become, or are vulnerable to becoming, victims of crime; and
WHEREAS, Survivors of certain criminal activity can file a petition for U Nonimmigrant Status (U visa) with the United States Citizens and Immigration Services (IJSCIS) if they cooperate in the detection, investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of a qualifying criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, S urvivors of human trafficking can file a petition for a T Nonimmigrant Status (T Visa) with the United States Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) if they cooperate in the detection, investigation, prosecution or sentencing of human trafficking;
WHEREAS, In order to be eligible for a U visa, a law enforcement agency confirms cooperation by signing a form known as a 1-918 Supplement B (U visa certification) that must be provided to USCIS; and
WHEREAS, Despite facing no liability if a certification is issued incorrectly, currently in Chicago only the Chicago Police Department, the Commission on Human Relations, and the Office of Labor Standards sign certifications; and
WHEREAS, If approved, U visa recipients are granted work authorization, social security numbers, protection against deportation, and may be eligible to apply for Lawful Permanent Residence after three years of maintaining U visa status; and
WHEREAS, The City remains committed to the needs of its communities through the development of a system of policies that increase fairness, effectiveness, and inclusion for a particularly marginalized population; and
WHEREAS, Expanding access to the U visa could benefit the City in multiple ways, including by empowering residents to file good-faith criminal reports or civil complaints while increasing forms oflegal relief outside of the criminal justice system, thereby improving and advancing policing in the City; and
WHEREAS, ...
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