When a citizen of another country is the victim of a violent crime in Florida or elsewhere in the United States, he or she may be eligible to obtain a U visa. When violent crime occurs against a noncitizen in the United States, a recovering victim may request protected legal status in the United States. U.S. immigration law requires a person in such circumstances to cooperate with prosecutors and law enforcement agents to pursue conviction against the party or parties who committed the crime.
Two men were recently released from prison after being behind bars since 1998. The situation involved a double murder in another state to which the men had supposedly confessed. They told the court that their confessions were forced, brought on by physical beatings they endured at the hands of a detective who was questioning them at the time. The men are two out of 14 people who have had their convictions overturned because of abuse committed by this same detective.
The two men in this particular case have requested law enforcement assistance to secure U visas so they will not longer be at risk for deportation outside of jail. One of the men says it is the last that can be done for him to make up for all that he suffered when the detective committed violence against him. He also said he would like to return to his country of origin although he wants to first settle his affairs in this country without worrying about immigration detention problems.
U.S. immigration law is complex and not everyone that applies of a U visa receives one. An experienced Florida attorney can help explain the process and can be on hand to assist any noncitizen wishing to pursue this type of protection. The first logical step to take is to discuss the issue with an attorney who has successfully helped others obtain U visas in the past.
Source: chicago.sun-times.com, “Freed from prison after claiming police abuse, pair want CPD help with visas”, Andy Grimm, March 19, 2018
