Police Department

What is the VOICES Act?

The Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Act, also known as the VOICES Act, became effective January 1, 2019, after the Public ACT 100-1115 was passed.  The VOICES Act allows "victims of qualifying criminal activity" to request a law enforcement certification form required by federal immigration law certifying that a person is a victim of qualifying criminal activity for use in applying for a U or T- Visa under the United States Code.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA) of 2000 was enacted to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute serious crimes and trafficking in persons, while offering protections to victims of such crimes without the immediate risk of being removed from the country. A U-Visa is a temporary visa issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to victims of certain crimes, providing temporary legal status and eligibility to work in the United States for up to 4 years.

USCIS may find an applicant eligible for a U Visa if the applicant:

• Is the direct or indirect victim of qualifying criminal activity;
• Has suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity;
• Has been helpful, is helpful, or is likely to be helpful to a Federal, State, or local prosecutor, to a Federal or State judge, to USCIS, or to other Federal, State, or local authorities investigating or prosecuting criminal activity; and
• The criminal activity violated the laws of the United States or occurred in the U.S. or the territories and possessions of the United States.

Additional information, including applicable forms, may be found through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services here.

The following are qualifying criminal activities: Rape; torture; trafficking; incest; domestic violence; sexual assault; abusive sexual conduct; prostitution; sexual exploitation; female genital mutilation; being held hostage; peonage; involuntary servitude; slave trade; kidnapping; abduction; unlawful criminal restraint; false imprisonment; blackmail; extortion; manslaughter; murder; felonious assault; witness tampering; obstruction of justice; perjury; fraud in foreign labor contracting; stalking; any similar activity where the elements of the crime are substantially similar; or the attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above and other related crimes. Additionally, crimes that are “substantially similar” to those listed above may also qualify.

Not many people are aware that the unauthorized practice of law could be a qualifying criminal activity for purposes of U Visa certification. This problem occurs when immigrants go to a notary public seeking legal advice, and these notary publics file fraudulent claims. Many unsuspecting consumers of immigration services fall prey to “consultants” and notary publics who hold themselves out as legal professionals and falsely claim that the immigrant is eligible to legalize their immigration status. The unauthorized practice of immigration law occurs when those who are not attorneys or accredited representatives:

• Provide legal assistance to applicants or petitioners in immigration matters;
• Charge more than a nominal fee; and/or
• Hold themselves out to be qualified in legal matters.

The following are possible crimes associated with the Unauthorized Practice of Law: blackmail; extortion; obstruction of     justice; perjury; witness tampering; or attempts or conspiracies to do any of the above.

Please follow the following procedures prior to submitting a U-Visa Certification request to the Morris Police Department:

• Verify that the case in question was handled by the Morris Police Department. If the case was not investigated by the Morris Police Department, then we are not the correct office to handle your certification request. You may wish to request a copy of the police report and/or investigative report through the Freedom of Information Act, the process for     which is detailed here.
• Verify that you or your client was a victim of a qualifying crime. See 8 CFR §214.14 (a)(9).
• Verify that you or your client was helpful in the prosecution of the case, specifically, your client has not refused to provide information reasonably requested by law enforcement and/or the respective Prosecutor’s office.
• Download the U-Visa law enforcement certification at U-Visa (USCIS Form I-918 Supplement B)

T nonimmigrant status is a temporary immigration benefit that enables certain victims of a severe form of human trafficking to remain in the United States for up to 4 years if they have assisted law enforcement in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking. T nonimmigrant status is also available for certain qualifying family members of trafficking victims. T nonimmigrants are eligible for employment authorization and certain federal and state benefits and services. T nonimmigrants who qualify may also be able to adjust their status and become lawful permanent residents (obtain a Green Card)

Congress created this status (commonly referred to as a T visa) in October 2000 as part of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to compel individuals to provide labor or services, including commercial sex. Traffickers often take advantage of vulnerable individuals, including those lacking lawful immigration status. T visas offer protection to victims and strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute human trafficking .

Under federal law, a “severe form of trafficking” is:

• Sex trafficking: When someone recruits, harbors, transports, provides, solicits, patronizes, or obtains a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, where the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person being induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age; or
• Labor trafficking: When someone recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Additional information, including applicable forms, may be found through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services here.

Download the T-Visa law enforcement certification at T-Visa (USCIS Form I-914 Supplement B)

To submit a request for a T or U Visa certification to the Morris Police Department, or to appeal a denial of a certification request, please forward your request in writing with all supporting documentation to:

Morris Police Department
Attn: Office of the Chief of Police
200 E. Chapin St.
Morris, Il 60450
815-942-6503

To avoid a delay in processing your initial request or appeal, all U-Visa or T-Visa Law Enforcement Certification Requests or appeals must be mailed to the Office of the Chief of Police with all supporting documentation including Morris Police Department case report number if known. Supporting documentation includes but is not limited to:

• Name of Victim of Qualifying Crime
• Name of Arrestee/Defendant(s)
• Date of Birth and Identifiers for Arrestee/Defendant(s)
• Grundy County Court Case (docket) number if known
  Address of Incident
• Date of Incident
• Victim/Client’s Name and Identifiers
• A copy of the Police Report (obtainable through FOIA) will assist in processing the certification request
• Return Addressed Envelope with pre-paid postage affixed should be included with the submission
• Additional information can be located here.