47.8 F
Washington D.C.
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lawmakers Probe U Visa, Immigration Parole Practices Following Fraud & Overreach

Two lawmakers have demanded the Obama administration to explain its management of the U visa program following significant findings of fraud and a new administrative policy that appears to violate the law.

House and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), said in their announcement that, “The U visa program was designed to allow foreign nationals who fall victim to crime in the United States to remain here to assist in the investigation and prosecution of their perpetrator.  However, falsified U visa applications and Obama Administration policies that ignore congressional limits have distorted the program beyond its original intent.”

The lawmakers’ announcement stated, “A law enforcement agency investigating a crime can certify a U Visa application if the foreign national cooperates in the investigation.  However, recent cases have highlighted how the program is being exploited through falsified police reports and bribes to secure U visas allowing foreign nationals to avoid deportation. According to whistleblowers, such illicit activity to secure U visas is common."

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the chairmen are seeking information regarding how US Citizenship and Immigration Services certifies the validity of U visa applications.

“Although the U visa program can be an important tool in the investigation and prosecution of crimes, fraud and abuse of the program can lead to unjustified approvals leaving legitimate victims in the shadows,” the chairmen said in their letter.

The chairmen also raised concern about new Obama administration policies that effectively ignore an annual 10,000 visa cap for principle applicants.  Their announcement said, “The Obama administration is seeking to grant ‘conditional approval’ to applicants after the cap is reached, preventing deportation and allowing the applicant to remain in the United States until more visas are available in subsequent year. Applicants living abroad could be admitted into the United States while their application is being reviewed under a proposed blanket immigration parole policy. This policy ignores congressionally-mandated caps and a law that limits the administration’s parole authority to a case-by-case discretionary basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

“The new U visa blanket parole policy is yet another example of the Obama Administration’s complete disregard for Congress’ constitutionally mandated role in developing immigration policy. This policy ignores the authority of the legislative branch, and tramples on our system of checks and balances,” the chairmen said in their letter.

In their letter to Johnson, Goodlatte and Grassley said they want full details “regarding alleged fraudulent activity associated with the U nonimmigrant visa (U visa) program. We also want to express opposition to an apparent US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decision to implement a seemingly unlawful parole program for U visa petitioners living abroad.”

“The U visa program was originally created by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000 to ensure that illegal alien victims of crimes could remain in the United States to assist with the investigation and prosecution of their perpetrator. However, this visa is being exploited by those wishing to defraud the system and avoid deportation,” Goodlatte and Grassley said. “For example, in May of 2016, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi announced the indictment of 11 individuals who were part of a conspiracy to submit fraudulent documents to USCIS in order to obtain U visas. Such fraudulent documents included falsified police reports containing forged law enforcement official signatures. All 11 defendants entered guilty pleas in October of 2016.”

“Additionally,” Goodlatte and Grassley told Johnson, “the same month, a special agent with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and an attorney were charged with bribery, conspiracy to defraud the US, and obstructing an official investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG). The HSI special agent was charged after he misused his position to obtain numerous deferrals of deportation and other immigration benefits for non-citizen foreign nationals in return for over $5,000 in cash payments, free legal services and other items of value from the attorney involved. According to whistleblower reports to the Senate Judiciary Committee, instances of law enforcement officials improperly certifying U visa forms in exchange for cash and other bribes is a common occurrence.”

Goodlatte and Grassley said in their letter, “U visas are capped at 10,000 annually for principal applicants. However, under an apparently unlawful USCIS policy, cases that would have otherwise been approved in the absence of the cap may receive “conditional approval” and a work authorization until U visas become available the following year. In some cases, despite no statutory authorization, the application itself may serve to halt deportation until it is adjudicated. Petitioners in foreign countries who apply for a U visa after the cap is exceeded, until now, remained abroad until their application was fully adjudicated. However, in August, USCIS announced its intent to  implement a new  ‘parole policy’ under which eligible U visa petitioners who live abroad, along with their derivatives, can apply for parole and be admitted to the US prior to adjudication. Such a policy has the potential to allow thousands of individuals the ability to wait for their adjudication results in the United States, during which time they could be granted work authorization and additional benefits.”

“According to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),” Goodlatte and Grassley said in their letter to Johnson, “parole should be granted on a case-by-case discretionary basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, and is not intended for sweeping or blanket use. The new U visa blanket parole policy is yet another example of the Obama administration’s complete disregard for Congress’ constitutionally mandated role in developing immigration policy. This policy ignores the authority of the legislative branch, and tramples on our system of checks and balances.”

Continuing, Goodlatte and Grassley wrote, “Although the U visa program can be an important tool in the investigation and prosecution of crimes, fraud and abuse of the program can lead to unjustified approvals leaving legitimate victims in the shadows. In light of the increasing accounts of U visa fraud, and the new parole policy that could allow thousands of petitioners free passage to the United States while their application is pending,” they told Johnson to respond to the following questions, and to provide the requested information no later than January 2, 2016.

  • Please list all law enforcement agencies that have provided U visa certifications since 2009, and provide the number of certifications done each year by each agency.
  • What steps does USCIS take to verify that the certification is valid?
  • What steps does USCIS take to ensure that the signature on the certification is in fact the signature of the law enforcement official named?
  • What steps do certifying law enforcement agencies take to verify the validity of an alien applicant’s statement and limit fraud?
  • With which law enforcement entities has the department discussed U visa standards in the last seven years? Please describe the content of such discussions.
  • Are U visa applications approved on a first come, first served basis, or does the agency issue visas to those most vulnerable or helpful to an investigation or prosecution? Please explain and provide any relevant written guidance provided to adjudicators. Has any consideration been given to issuing U visas in an alternative manner? If so, please explain.
  • Please provide the number of times for each of the past three fiscal years (FY 2014-2016) that a U visa application has been approved for a principal based on that principal being “likely to be helpful” to the investigation or prosecution as opposed to the principal actually aiding in the investigation or prosecution. Please provide the number of derivative U visas applied for based on the above criteria.
  • Please provide the number of pending U visa applications. Please also provide the number of derivatives included in such applications.
  • Of the number of principal applicants who have pending U visa applications, how many currently live abroad?
  • Of the number described in question (a), how many would be eligible for parole under the new USCIS parole policy?
  • How many cases of U visa fraud were identified from FY 2014 through October of FY 2016 and by which component in DHS was the fraud identified?  Please provide the resolution of each case (i.e. referred to US attorneys, referred for prosecution, prosecuted, acquitted, etc.)?
  • What percentage of cases in which a U visa applicant is assisting with a criminal investigation have resulted in an arrest? What percentage of cases have resulted in a successful prosecution? Please provide data for FY 2010-present.
  • How many derivative U visas were granted to family members of U visa recipients each year from FY 2014 through FY 2016? How many derivative U visas were applied for during this period?
  • What types of immigration benefits are available to U visa applicants while their applications are pending? Can they be granted "deferred action" while they wait for approval of their applications?
  • Please describe in detail a U visa recipient’s “ongoing responsibilities” with respect to a potential investigation or prosecution.
  • Has USCIS issued guidance to law enforcement entities ensuring their knowledge that a visa certification is discretionary and not a mandatory exercise?  If so, please provide this guidance. If not, why not?
  • How many U visa recipients applied for extensions each year during FY 2010 – 2016? How many U visa extensions were granted during each of those fiscal years?
  • How many U visa grantees received employment authorization each year during FY 2010–2016?
  • Please provide any and all reports by Department of Homeland Security components outlining fraud in the U visa program from FY 2010- FY 2016.
Lawmakers Probe U Visa, Immigration Parole Practices Following Fraud & Overreach Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest Articles