City Council is considering establishing a formal process for the Reading Police Department to certify U Visa applications, a move advocates say could strengthen cooperation between immigrant crime victims and law enforcement.
Council heard a presentation on the proposal during a recent committee of the whole meeting at the invitation of Councilman Jaime Baez Jr.
A U Visa is a federal immigration status available to victims of certain serious crimes who have suffered physical or mental abuse and assist law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity.
Local law enforcement agencies do not grant the visa, but their certification is generally required before a victim can apply.
Baez, who previously discussed the issue with the city administration and police department, said establishing standards could give victims and witnesses confidence to report crimes without fear that their immigration status will be used against them.
Attorney Bridget Cambria, cofounder and executive director of ALDEA – The People’s Justice Center, said Reading has lacked a consistent procedure for U Visa certifications for years.
“There is no set policy in the city for the certification of a U visa from the Reading police,” Cambria said, contrasting the city’s practices with those of the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, which she said routinely handles certifications.
Cambria stressed that certification does not grant immigration status. Police instead determine whether someone was the victim of a qualifying crime, possesses information about it and has been or is likely to be helpful to investigators.
“The ordinance doesn’t actually give a person a legal status; it gives them the ticket to apply for that legal status,” she said.
Certifications would remain discretionary, Cambria said, although the proposal would require applicants to be told why their request was denied.
Attorney Samuel Grimsley of the Community Justice Project said uncertainty can discourage immigrant victims from contacting police. A formal policy could help build trust on both sides, he said.
“Having this policy will create some predictability,” he said, noting the proposal includes a 90-day period for processing certification requests and calls for a trained officer or liaison to handle them.
Maria Hernandez, a Reading resident and member of Make the Road Pennsylvania, described her experience obtaining a U Visa after being victimized. The process was difficult, she said, but ultimately transformed her family’s circumstances.
“The U visa removes barriers, builds trust and makes our community safe,” Hernandez said.
Council members generally supported establishing a process but raised questions about how it should be structured.
Councilman Rafael Nunez strongly endorsed the effort, saying, “Whatever needs to be done, we will do it.”
Councilman O. Christopher Miller said he wanted more information, including input from the police department and possibly the district attorney, before council proceeds.
“I really want to try and get the big picture,” Miller said.
Councilman Raymond Baker, who also serves as an assistant district attorney, said he had no concerns with establishing a process but questioned whether an ordinance or resolution would be the better approach.
Managing Director Jack Gombach said the administration supports moving the initiative forward but wants some language revised. He said protections could be incorporated into an ordinance or resolution, the city’s administrative code and police general orders to help preserve the policy through future changes in leadership.
Council President Donna Reed said council will continue working with the administration on the proposal