Since the December 6 shooting on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, more than a dozen noncitizen students have sought assistance from the UNLV Immigration Clinic. The clinic provides free legal services to students and faculty, helping those affected explore their eligibility for a U visa—a visa designed to protect victims of certain crimes. The goal is to safeguard victims’ rights as they come forward to provide evidence and testimony to assist police investigations. However, some students, particularly those who are undocumented, face challenges in trusting law enforcement due to past negative experiences in their home countries.
Aubrey Maples, the university legal services fellow with the UNLV Immigration Clinic, emphasizes the importance of taking the first step in the process, even if there is no guarantee of obtaining a U visa. The U visa, created by Congress over 20 years ago, is intended for victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse, providing a pathway to permanent residency. The application process involves proving trauma, which can be challenging when witnesses may not have physical wounds due to the nature of the shooting and swift police response.
The U visa application process requires fact-finding by law enforcement, certifying that the person is a victim and has provided information helpful to investigating or prosecuting a crime. Only 10,000 U visas are issued each year, and once the cap is reached, those remaining on the waiting list are granted a deferred action permit to work legally in the United States.
Nayelli Rico Lopez, the resource coordinator for UNLV’s Undocumented Student Program, is assisting the immigration clinic in reaching noncitizen students affected by the shooting. She promotes and organizes information sessions about immigration options for survivors. Despite the backlog, successfully obtaining a U visa can lead to applying for a green card after three years, providing permanent residency in the U.S. Many undocumented students have limited options for obtaining legal status under current law.
The UNLV Immigration Clinic’s efforts highlight the importance of supporting and informing noncitizen students about available resources and legal pathways, especially in the aftermath of traumatic events.
