The Los Angeles Police Department told a council committee Friday it has processed thousands of U Visa certification requests and is expanding outreach and internal training, while council members instructed the Police Commission to change policy so applicants for any qualifying U Visa crime can receive free, expedited copies of police reports.

Commander Jay Mastic and Detective Marie Sadanaga presented the Board of Police Commissioners' report on U Visas, explaining law enforcement's role in certifying victims who assist in investigations and prosecutions. Sadanaga, the department's U Visa coordinator, said LAPD has received more requests in 2025 than in prior years and that the department's internal database and designated coordinators help track and process requests.

Sadanaga said LAPD has received more than 18,000 U Visa requests since February 2017, with about 81% certified overall; she told the committee that through July 31, 2025, the department had received 1,973 requests this year, of which 1,524 were certified, 438 denied and 60 appealed. Sadanaga described the central form as the I-918 Supplement B, the law enforcement certification required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Sadanaga and Mastic told the committee about operational challenges: community awareness of the U Visa process, delays in obtaining copies of police reports, and the need for multilingual public materials. Sadanaga said some victims wait months for copies of reports and noted that under state law, victims who need reports for a U Visa application should receive them within seven days. Commander Mastic said he is encouraging area commanding officers to provide copies at station front desks without requiring records requests and fees.

Councilmember Rodriguez moved — and a colleague seconded — a recommendation asking the Police Commission to amend department policy so that the full set of qualifying U Visa crimes (the department referenced roughly 25 qualifying offenses) are included among victims eligible for immediate, free copies of police reports to aid immigration applications. Councilmembers emphasized that quicker report access prevents certified signatures from expiring (certifications are valid for six months) and helps victims meet federal filing deadlines.

Councilmembers also asked LAPD to broaden public education through community centers, libraries and contracting partners; Sadanaga said a flyer and a multilingual brochure are in development and that outreach work is already under way with the Community Investment for Families Department and other city partners.

The committee recorded five ayes on the instruction directing the Police Commission to act and noted the Board of Police Commissioners' report.