The annual cap on T visas, established in 2000, has not been reached. Immigration enforcement under the Trump administration has been described as a wide-reaching approach targeting undocumented individuals. Bay Area residents and advocates have protested against arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. San Jose's Mayor warned of a chilling effect on immigrant communities, resulting in fear among residents, which leads to less reporting of crimes. Immigrant women face high rates of abuse, yet many do not report these incidents due to fear of deportation, with significant increases in U visa applications reported.
The rate of abuse against immigrant women is roughly 49% - nearly three times the national average - according to the National Organization for Women. Those same victims are much less likely to report the crimes due to fear of deportation.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan stated, "When any of our neighbors live in fear that reporting a crime might put their life in this country at risk, it makes everyone less safe."
Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney Terry Harman said that nearly half of all U visa applicants locally are women who have been victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Panetta criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement, describing it as a "shotgun approach to rounding up anybody and everybody who is undocumented."
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