ICE Guidance Making It Easier to Deport Victims of Crime Paused

The Trump administration’s policy narrowing the way it views immigrants petitioning for visas based on being victims of crimes was halted by a federal judge, who also certified a class of immigrants detained by ICE who have these visas pending.

Judge Andre Birotte Jr. of the US District Court for the Central District of California stayed guidance issued in 2025 by the administration, which superseded a prior requirement that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement refrain from pursuing removal of people with pending Violence Against Women Act petitions, U visas, or T visas, the judge said.

Some 600,000 people are awaiting ...