How Immigration Policy Threatens US Public Safety

On December 2, 2025, Human Rights Watch released a report warning that current U.S. immigration enforcement policies are undermining public safety. The report claims these policies discourage undocumented crime survivors from cooperating with law enforcement.

It focuses on how aggressive deportation practices weaken the effectiveness of the U visa program. This federal mechanism is designed to protect crime victims while supporting criminal investigations.

These findings come as the Trump administration expands immigration enforcement, with arrests now taking place in areas once considered off-limits, like courthouses and healthcare facilities.

Understanding How Immigration Policy Threatens US Public Safety

The Human Rights Watch report, titled “We Need U: How the U Visa Builds Trust, Counters Fear, and Promotes Community Safety, ” examines how deportation-focused enforcement undermines visa protections for undocumented crime victims.

According to the report, individuals who might otherwise report abuse or assist police investigations are increasingly reluctant to do so due to fear of immigration arrest.

On August 1, 2025, federal agents detained a woman right after an immigration court hearing in New York City. Human Rights Watch uses this case to show that court enforcement discourages survivors from seeking protection or justice.

Sara Darehshori, consultant and report author, said that these enforcement measures, designed to fight crime, instead help abusers by reducing victim cooperation.

The U visa was established by Congress in 2000 to address serious crimes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and rape. These crimes particularly affect undocumented women and children.

The program allows eligible victims to apply for legal residency if they cooperate with law enforcement and demonstrate substantial physical or mental harm.

The program was designed to counteract situations where abusers exploit immigration status to silence victims or evade accountability. Human Rights Watch notes that the U visa includes safeguards to prevent fraudulent claims, such as law-enforcement certification requirements.

But the report highlights old problems, such as annual visa caps, long processing times, and inconsistent police certification.

Image showing businessman signing and stamping official document at desk

Enforcement or Operational Impact

Human Rights Watch documented how expanded immigration enforcement has created barriers for crime survivors.

ICE arrests near courts, hospitals, and other public institutions discourage individuals from reporting abuse, attending hearings, or seeking protective orders. From May to October 2025, researchers interviewed 43 law enforcement officials, immigration attorneys, advocates, and crime survivors across the U.S. Many said that fear of deportation and family separation stopped victims from seeking help.

A survey by the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors found that 75 percent of advocates and attorneys said their clients feared contacting police. More than 70 percent said clients feared going to court about their abusers.

Broader Implications

The report argues that undermining the U visa program affects not only immigrant communities but public safety more broadly.

Victims participating in U visa cases have assisted law enforcement in addressing crimes beyond domestic violence, including robbery, wage theft, hate crimes, sexual assault, and homicide. Human Rights Watch concludes that policies discouraging victim cooperation weaken investigations and prosecutions, allowing perpetrators to remain at large.

The organization notes that immigration enforcement priorities that conflict with victim protection obligations may also undermine U.S. commitments to combat gender-based violence.

Key Takeaways

On December 2, 2025, Human Rights Watch warned that U.S. immigration enforcement is undermining public safety.

Arrests near courts and healthcare facilities discourage crime survivors from seeking help.

The U visa program, introduced in 2000, was designed to protect undocumented crime victims who assist law enforcement by offering them legal residency options.

Interviews and surveysconsistently show that many immigrant survivors now fear involving the police or courts due to concerns about deportation or other immigration consequences.

Weakening the victim-protection U visa program may further decrease crime reporting and hinder efforts to prosecute offenders, thereby impacting community safety.

The report underscores that immigration enforcement policies deterring victim cooperation weaken public safety outcomes. Human Rights Watch urges policymakers to act swiftly, calling for concrete measures to strengthen visa protections for crime survivors and ensure that enforcement practices do not undermine community safety or law enforcement effectiveness.