One San Jose lawmaker wants to increase protections for undocumented immigrants who assist law enforcement in investigating crimes committed against them.
Congressman Jimmy Panetta, whose district includes South San Jose, has introduced the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, which would remove a cap for U and T visas. The visas are meant to encourage undocumented victims of human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and other serious crimes to engage with law enforcement without fear of deportation. There’s an annual cap of 10,000 petitions for U visas, and Santa Clara County has seen a recent rise in applications. At the same time, the federal government is targeting the visas for elimination — and applicants for potential deportation.
Panetta’s bill would also protect victims from detention or deportation while their case is under review, and allow them to receive work permits while they wait for the visa…