Several years ago, Portland attorney Patrick Sherwood’s client reported to police that she was assaulted as a 17-year-old. She wanted her assailant brought to justice, but as a member of a family at risk for deportation, she was vulnerable. She sought protection by requesting police sign off on a certification for what’s called a U visa application.
The United States allows immigrants who are victims of certain crimes to apply for a U visa if they are “helpful” to law enforcement.
In the case of Sherwood’s client, police denied the application twice.
If the city of Portland’s ombudsman hadn’t intervened in 2022, urging Portland Police to sign off on the certification, Sherwood expects his client and her family would have been deported by now…