Council approves 'Uplifting Victims and Immigration Safety' (U‑Visa) certification policy to protect immigrant crime victims

The Montgomery County Council approved Expedited Bill 26‑24, the Uplifting Victims and Immigration Safety Act (U‑Visa legislation), directing the county to adopt a U‑Visa certification policy that is consistent with federal law and removes a 10‑year limit on the timing of qualifying crimes for the county's certification process.

The bill requires local policy to be "consistent with and not more restrictive than any allowed by federal law," Public Safety Committee Chair Sidney Katz said, and was framed by sponsors as a tool to protect immigrant victims of serious crimes (including domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking) and to encourage cooperation with law enforcement. Katz thanked staff lead Ms. McCartney Green and public safety committee members for their work on the measure.

During committee and council discussion, members asked whether providing certification information to federal authorities posed risks for undocumented residents; staff responded that the U‑Visa certification is a component of a larger federal application and that what happens after local certification is outside the county's control. Members also discussed training and staffing: planners and MCPD (Montgomery County Police Department) representatives told the committee they have divisions trained to handle U‑Visa certification work and had already removed the prior 10‑year limitation in practice, resulting in immediate benefit for some applicants.

Councilmember Lass, a lead sponsor, emphasized the human effect: "No one should be afraid to ask for help when they need it or to seek justice when they've been wronged," he said, and noted that MCPD reported 142 people sought U‑Visa assistance in 2024 and that recent procedural changes had already allowed additional applicants to qualify.

The council approved the measure with the committee's amendment; a roll‑call vote recorded yes votes from the full council. Sponsors said the bill clarifies county policy and aligns certification practice with federal law while aiming to reduce barriers for immigrant victims to seek help.

Why it matters: The U‑Visa process can provide lawful immigration status to victims of qualifying crimes who assist law enforcement. Local certification by law enforcement is one component of the federal application; aligning local policy with federal guidance and removing an arbitrary 10‑year constraint may increase access to relief for victims and improve cooperation with police.

Next steps: The Public Safety Committee and MCPD will continue training and administrative updates to implement the revised certification policy; staff recommended reviewing the committee work session record for procedural details.