Aggressive Deportation Tactics Put Communities at Risk, HRW Says
Human Rights Watch says immigration enforcement tactics used under the Trump administration are weakening protections for undocumented crime survivors and discouraging them from seeking help.
The group’s new 50-page report argues that aggressive deportation measures are deterring victims from cooperating with police and prosecutors, undermining efforts to investigate and prosecute serious offences. Central to its findings is the U visa programme, created by Congress in 2000 to encourage undocumented victims of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking to report abuse without fear of removal.
By offering a potential route to legal residency in exchange for assisting investigations, the programme was designed to protect vulnerable individuals and support law enforcement. According to the report, recent operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in courthouses and health facilities have eroded trust and discouraged survivors from seeking protection.
Sara Darehshori, a consultant to Human Rights Watch and the report’s author, said the government’s approach “is benefiting abusers, making it less likely that they will be apprehended and prosecuted.” She argued that expanding and improving visa programmes would help ensure survivors can report crimes without risking deportation.
The report draws on 43 interviews carried out between May and October 2025 with police officials, immigration lawyers, advocates, and victims. One case involves a woman in New York who reported a violent assault in 2023 despite fearing removal. She is now awaiting a U visa and says the programme enabled her to seek police protection.
Survey data cited in the report indicates widespread fear among undocumented survivors. Research by the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors found that more than three-quarters of advocates and attorneys said their clients were afraid to contact police, and over 70 percent said survivors were reluctant to appear in court. Human Rights Watch notes that such fear can be exploited by abusers to prevent victims from reporting violence.
The U visa has supported investigations beyond domestic abuse, including cases of wage theft, homicide, and hate crimes. Human Rights Watch also stresses that safeguards are in place to detect fraudulent claims. However, the organisation acknowledges several shortcomings: the number of available visas is far below demand, applications can take years to process, and law enforcement agencies exercise broad discretion over certification, leading to inconsistent results.
Even so, the report describes the programme as a vital tool for meeting human rights obligations and addressing gender-based violence. Saloni Sethi, commissioner of New York City’s Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, said the visa helps survivors overcome fear and seek assistance without jeopardising their families’ stability.
She said strengthening and streamlining the scheme would improve both support for victims and public safety.
