Thread by @HMAesq

Got a pair of U visa approvals today!

U visas provide status for victims of certain crimes. The qualifying rules can be quite technical. My clients waited nearly 6 years, for crimes that occurred 10-15 years ago.

All that uncertainty over status is now over.

There's a massive backlog of U visas: note how long these cases were pending. And one of the requirements is the police signing off on a certification form that qualifies the crime, and attests to the help the victim gave in prosecuting it.

U visas are a great way to engender trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.

Sadly, not all jurisdictions like to participate in such easy community policing. When police refuse to sign, the U visa is not available.

Signing U visas should be official policy!

Here in Virginia, our state senator @ssurovell introduced a bill to standardize *and* streamline the process of U visa certification across the Commonwealth.

It was signed into law by @GovernorVA just 10 days ago.

U (and T visas, for trafficking victims) are some of the humanitarian visas available. They need to be expanded so aspiring Americans aren't relegated to an underclass.

My clients were undocumented for nearly 20 years. Now they're not. What would deporting them have solved?

Congress reconvened today with a heavy mandate to pass some immigration reforms.

I'm under no illusions, but I hope this simple reminder is repeated to those who need to hear it:

A rising tide lifts all boats.