Justice Department Targets Colorado Law Expanding U Visa Certifications

By: Nicole C. Brambila | The Denver Gazette

The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to challenge Colorado’s U-Visa law, arguing it conflicts with federal immigration rules by broadening who qualifies for law enforcement certifications used in visa applications.

HB21-1060 was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in 2021.

The law was designed to create uniformity and fairness for immigrant crime survivors.

“Colorado victims have been subjected to inconsistent policies across the state, unfairly preventing them from applying for a U-Visa,” Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network said in a statement upon the measure passing both chambers.

Eric Maruyama, a Polis spokesperson, could not be reached for comment before this story published.

Congress created the U nonimmigrant status (U-Visa) in 2020 to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. The federal law spells out more than two dozen crimes in which victims would be eligible for the visa.

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