Joint Committee on Public Safety, Immigration & Refugee Rights
City Council Meeting December 14, 2022
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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; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, That the Chicago Police Department and Law Department bring forth protocols and procedures that allow for a transparent certification process for U Nonimmigrant Status certifications, including the keeping of records, submissions, approvals and rejections, along with associated reasons forthe respective decisions associated therein; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, that Chicago
Police Department shall be required to provide; semi-annual updates to the Joint
Committee of Public Safety & Immigration and Refugee Rights on their progress.
Alderman Daniel La Spata, 1st Ward
Alderman Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward
AJ<ferrnaTySobhia D. ((ing, 4^Ward
Alderman Leslie Hairston, 5th Ward
Alderman Gregory I. Mitchell, 7th Ward
Alderman Michelle Harris, 8th Ward
Alder/nah Anthony Beale, 9th Ward
Alderman Derrick Curtis, 18th Ward Alderman Matt Cr^hja, 19th Ward
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n Byron Sigcho - Lopezes0, ward
Alderman Roberto Maldonado, 26th Ward
Alderman Michael p. Rodriguez, 22nd Ward Alderman Silvana Tabaresi 23rd ward
Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10* Ward
Ward h»\Lo|^( Alderman Jason Ervin, 28th Ward
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r Taliaferro,;
29th Ward
Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., 27th Ward
Alderman Christophe
Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras, 30th Ward
^^^^
Alderman Felix Cardona Jr., 31st4ward