Carmen, an immigrant from South America whose name has been withheld for safety, called police on her abusive husband. He was deported. She applied for a U visa — the federal program created under VAWA in 2000 for crime victims who cooperate with law enforcement. At a routine ICE check-in, she was detained. ICE deported her despite her pending U visa application, sending her and her young son back to their home country — where her abuser was waiting at the airport. He confiscated her passport. The abuse has resumed. She cannot leave without his permission. More than 250,000 immigrants are in the U visa backlog. Congress capped annual approvals at 10,000. Average waits exceed 15 years. The Trump administration is deporting applicants during that wait — reversing longstanding ICE policy. A class-action lawsuit, ICWC v. Noem, has been filed in California federal court seeking to return Carmen and other deported survivors and halt further deportations. A ruling is expected soon. Source: Mother Jones, Samantha Michaels, April 2026. Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. #UVisa #Immigration #DomesticViolence #ICE #TheWashingtonPretzel #USPoliTickle The Washington Pretzel | US PoliTickle
She called police on her abuser. He was deported. ICE then deported her back to him — he was waiting at the airport. He has her passport. She can't leave. She had a pending U visa. ICE ignored it. 250K+ wait. Class-action filed. 🚨
#UVisa #Immigration #ICE #TheWashingtonPretzel
