U Visa Denials Archives

2024 Primary

A notorious Chicago cop wants to become a Cook County judge

Chicago Police Lt. John D. Poulos is running for Cook County judge in a crowded subcircuit race on the North Side. Standing in his way is a tarnished track record that experts say calls his credibility into question.

by Carlos Ballesteros March 4, 2024March 4, 2024

U Visa Denials

Promised City Hall hearings on U visa failures never happened

Injustice Watch revealed in December how Chicago police denied hundreds of U visa certifications from undocumented crime victims. More than half of the city council called for accountability and new transparency rules, but the measures never passed.

by Carlos Ballesteros June 20, 2023January 8, 2024

A pink-and-blue hued sketch of a young woman in duplicate. On the left side she's smiling, on the right side she has a sad expression.

U Visa Denials

El DCFS de Illinois impide que personas indocumentadas sobrevivientes de abuso infantil soliciten estatus legal, según muestran los registros

Durante años, el DCFS se ha negado a emitir certificaciones de visa U a sobrevivientes de abuso infantil, a pesar de una ley estatal que exige que la agencia decida si las víctimas califican para una enlos 90 días hábiles posteriores a la solicitud.

by Carlos Ballesteros February 27, 2023January 30, 2024

U Visa Denials

Illinois DCFS blocks undocumented survivors of child abuse from applying for legal status, records show

For years, the child-welfare agency has refused to issue U visa certifications to survivors of child abuse, despite a state law mandating DCFS decide whether victims qualify for one within 90 business days of applying.

by Carlos Ballesteros February 23, 2023January 8, 2024

U Visa Denials

Illinois AG investigating Chicago police over handling of U visas

The probe by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul follows Injustice Watch’s investigation into the Chicago Police Department’s denial of hundreds of U visa certification requests from undocumented crime victims.

by Carlos Ballesteros February 6, 2023July 3, 2025

U Visa Denials

Alderpeople call for hearings on Chicago police U visa certification program following Injustice Watch investigation

The investigation revealed that Chicago police denied more U visa certification requests than other large cities, and some of the denials contradicted state and federal guidelines.

by Carlos Ballesteros December 15, 2022January 8, 2024

U Visa Denials

La policía de Chicago negó a decenas de indocumentados que fueron víctimas de delitos un camino hacia la ciudadanía

Inmigrantes que buscan una visa U están siendo bloqueados por dos sargentos que anteriormente estuvieron cerca de ser despedidos por estar involucrados en tiroteos controversiales, lo cual genera dudas sobre el compromiso de CPD con el programa de visas U.

by Carlos Ballesteros December 12, 2022January 8, 2024

Illustration of two police officers placing U visa applications in a pile labeled “denied.”

U Visa Denials

Chicago police denied scores of undocumented crime victims a path to citizenship

Immigrants seeking a U visa are being blocked by two sergeants who were previously involved in controversial shootings and on the verge of being fired, raising questions about CPD’s commitment to the U visa program.

by Carlos Ballesteros December 8, 2022August 8, 2024

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