North Carolina prosecutor won’t help Latina crime victim because her attacker was Latino

*According to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, the victims of violence who are not U.S. citizens or legal residents are eligible to apply for a U visa. This NC prosecutor refuses to certify visas to Latina victims of abuse perpetrated by Latinos. The Federal government says there’s nothing it can do to force him to change his practice. VL

By Jin Zhao, Raw Story

A North Carolina county prosecutor refuses to certify visa petitions for Latino domestic violence victims if they are assaulted by Latino perpetrators, Think Progress reports.

Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell said in an interview that he only certifies visa petitions for Latino immigrants victimized by non-Latino assailants. In a case where the victim and the assailant are both Latino, he refuses to certify the visa applications for the victim.

Under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, victims of violence who are not U.S. citizens or green card holders are eligible to apply for a U visa, which will allow them to stay in the county legally.

Bell refused to certify a U visa petition in March for an immigrant from Honduras, Evelin, whose boyfriend, an immigrant from Mexico, allegedly punched her stomach while she was pregnant.

According to Bell, the law does not protect victims like Evelin.

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