Rep. Mark Takano Reintroduces the Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act to Protect Non-Citizen Victims of Hate Crimes
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) reintroduced the Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act in the 117th Congress. This bill aims to protect non-citizen victims of hate crimes by expanding the breadth of the U visa program and preventing their detention or deportation until their case has been adjudicated. It also provides funding to assists law enforcement agencies and groups that help protect and help victims of hate crimes to improve responses to hate crimes, promote better community relations between victims and law enforcement, and prevent hate crimes from happening altogether.
“As the number of hate crimes against communities of color continue to rise, it is critical we take action to ensure that immigrants, and perceived immigrants of all backgrounds, are protected, and feel safe speaking out,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “Too often, immigrants are hesitant to report hate crimes out of fear of detention or deportation, or due to distrust in law enforcement. My bill seeks to address this problem because no one should live in fear or be hesitant to seek the help, protection, and justice they deserve. After all of the pain and suffering inflicted on immigrant communities during the Trump Administration, it’s time to work to ensure that all victims of hate crimes are seen, heard, and supported.”
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has observed a decline in hate crimes reporting since 2014, and the National Crime Victimization Survey believes that more than half of all hate crimes (>100,000) have gone unreported over the past 5 to 6 years. This bill works towards protecting our communities against violence and hate, and ensures crimes targeting vulnerable groups are no longer committed with impunity.
This bill also authorizes $10,000,000 in federal funds to be appropriated to support law enforcement and prosecution personnel dedicated to reducing anti-immigrant hate crimes every fiscal year. This funding can also be used to support national, state, local or non-governmental organizations whose mission is to identify and prosecute hate crimes, reduce anti-immigrant biased violence, or train or assist non-citizens navigate the process of applying for the U visa and any other form of immigration relief.
The Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act seeks to amend the current Immigration and Nationality Act law to:
- Expand access to U visas for non-citizen victims of hate crimes by adding hate crimes to the list of qualifying U visas crimes.
- Strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of hate crimes, while also protect the victims of these crimes, and allow them to seek justice and help law enforcement without fear of reprisal.
- Prevent detention and deportation of non-citizens until there is a final denial of the non-citizen’s application for status after the exhaustion of administrative and judicial review.
- Direct DHS to increase the number of U visas from 10,000 to 12,000, making at least 2,000 more specifically available to victims of hate crimes.
- Authorize the use of federal funds for grants to educate law enforcement and prosecution officials so they can better make use of federal laws available to victims of hate crimes and also to groups that identify, assist and protect victims of hate crimes.
This bill has been endorsed by the Council for Global Equality, Freedom Network USA, Muslim Advocates, People for the American Way, and The Sikh Coalition.
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Lana Abbasi (951) 222-0203