Archive · 16 Sep 2025
Team Trump Targets Immigrant Crime Victims
Imagine someone is hurt in a crime.
If they're an immigrant, and they report it, they could get arrested.
The government changed the rules.
Now, instead of helping victims, they're detaining them and possibly deporting them.
Some people who were victims of crimes, and even those applying for special visas to stay in the country, are being held.
This makes it harder for victims to come forward to report crimes to the police.
One man, Felipe, was shot and then arrested when he went to get his belongings back.
ICE has changed policies, detaining more immigrant crime victims.
Felipe Hernandez, a crime victim, was arrested and detained by ICE.
Applications for U visas have dropped significantly.
Some argue this makes immigrants less likely to report crimes.
A judge ruled Hernandez's detention without a bond hearing was illegal.
- Who
- Team Trump and ICE
- What
- Are detaining and potentially deporting immigrants who are crime victims and/or are applying for U visas.
- When
- The policy changes started with the Trump administration.
- Where
- Across the US, with a specific case in Muscatine, Iowa.
- Why
- Critics say it's cruel and harms public safety by discouraging crime reporting.
Advocates
Conservatives
Victimization Status
Advocates
Victimization alone should provide protections and benefits to immigrants.
Conservatives
Victimization alone should not be sufficient grounds for granting benefits.
- Policy Change
- ICE rescinded policy protecting crime victim immigrants from detention/removal.
- Impact
- Applications for U visas dropped nearly half.
- Detention
- Immigrants, including those applying for U visas, are being detained.
- Example
- Felipe Hernandez, a crime victim, was arrested and detained by ICE.
- Court Ruling
- A judge ruled Hernandez's detention without a bond hearing was illegal.