A Special Visa Program Benefits Abused Illegal Immigrants

New York Times: Her legal status came about through what is known as a U visa – a humanitarian "island of niceness," as one advocate called it, in a sea of restrictive United States immigration laws. Victims of domestic violence are often deeply reluctant to press charges, fearing retaliation or simply hoping their abusers will change. The risk of deportation on escalates the aversion to go to the police. That is a main reason that Congress passed legislation in 2000, creating the U visa.