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This story was originally published by The 19th.

Trump administration policies have made it easier to detain and deport immigrants who have been victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and other crimes — and who have pending visa applications based on their cooperation with U.S. law enforcement. A lawsuit filed Tuesday says those policies violate federal law.

The lawsuit was filed by Public Counsel on behalf of a coalition of immigrant rights groups and eight immigrants who were targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite pending applications for U and T visas. Those visas were created by Congress to encourage immigrant victims of crime, particularly women, to come forward.

About 3 in 5 U and T visa applicants are immigrant women.

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As The 19th reported last month, the programs are bogged down by lengthy wait times that can stretch for more than a decade, leaving victims in limbo. With President Donald Trump back in office, these immigrants are more vulnerable to being detained or deported. Early data published by the administration and anecdotes from victim advocates suggest that the administration’s policies are having a chilling effect on crime reporting and new visa applications and may also be exacerbating wait times.

In the lead up to the 2024 election, high-ranking officials now working in the Trump administration proposed in

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