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Council hears supporters of U Visa bill as police say department removed 10‑year limit
Summary
At a Jan. 14 public hearing on expedited Bill 26‑24 (Uplifting Victims and Immigrant Safety Act), advocates, legal service providers and Montgomery County Police expressed support; the police department reported it removed an internal 10‑year limit on U‑visa certifications in December 2024.
The Montgomery County Council took public testimony Jan. 14 on expedited Bill 26‑24, the Uplifting Victims and Immigrant Safety Act, which would require county policy on law‑enforcement U‑visa certifications to be no more restrictive than federal immigration law.
Assistant Chief Nicholas Augustine of Montgomery County Police testified the department supports the bill and that the U‑visa program “is a vital tool for enhancing safety, justice, and community cohesion.” Augustine told the council that in 2024 the department received 142 U‑visa certification applications, certified 69 and denied 64; he said the department removed a prior 10‑year limitation on felony crimes on Dec. 11, 2024, and that four applications approved since that change had previously been ineligible.
Advocates and service providers urged the council to adopt the bill. Deborah Miller, director of Maryland Government and Community Relations for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said the bill aligns with longstanding commitments to protect newcomers and survivors of domestic violence. Alice Barrett, supervising immigration attorney with CASA, described clients who delayed seeking relief because of fear or lack of awareness and supported removing local barriers to U‑visa access.
Several immigrant survivors and service providers spoke about the bill’s potential to remove barriers that deter crime victims from reporting abuse. A member of CASA who identified as directly affected described a painful personal loss and urged the council to pass protections to encourage cooperation with law enforcement and to help families seek justice.
Other nonprofit and legal organizations testified virtually in favor, including HIAS and Montgomery County Family Justice Center staff, who emphasized that immigrant victims often face intimidation, withheld documents, threats of deportation or other coercive tactics by abusers.
The hearing closed without a final vote. Council staff and supporters said the bill is intended to ensure county policy aligns with federal standards, removing locally imposed time limits and other restrictions that could deter victims from seeking certifications.
