Kansas City Kansas: No longer safe haven for crime victims

A few days before the holidays, while most of our community was celebrating this joyous season, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department was unraveling protections for victims of crime in the city.

The police department announced that effective immediately they were suspending signature of the certifications needed for victims of dangerous crimes to request a U Visa through Immigration (USCIS). This means that if you are a crime victim in Kansas City Kansas, you will not be able to obtain the form that is an absolute requirement to file your case with USCIS – at least not through the police.

In previous years, KCK PD managed one of the friendliest local environments towards undocumented persons who had been the victims of crime. Although the PD still has bilingual personnel in its Victim Assistance Unit, lately the department has become a less friendly place for our immigrant community. Previously, certifications were processed in weeks – then they started taking months; certifications used to be processed for crimes occurred at any time – then only recent crimes were certified. Now, there is a moratorium until further notice.

According to communications, the police department is working to establish a new policy for the U Visa certification process, but it is not yet clear what the policy might be or when it will be announced. For now, by denying certifications, Kansas City Kansas creates an environment in which it is less likely that a vulnerable victim will report a crime. Kansas City Kansas has taken a giant leap back to become a haven not for victims, but rather for those who would harm some of the most vulnerable members our community.