Bill Overview
Title: Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement Restoration Act
Description: This bill establishes the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The office shall provide assistance to victims of crimes committed by non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who are present in the United States without lawful immigration status.
Sponsors: Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted directly or indirectly by crimes committed by undocumented non-U.S. nationals
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill pertains to victims of crimes committed by non-U.S. nationals who are unlawfully present in the U.S.
- To understand those impacted, we focus on the victims of such crimes, which includes U.S. citizens and residents.
- It also indirectly impacts undocumented immigrants who might face increased scrutiny or enforcement due to being identified as perpetrators under the program's purview.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to assist victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. We henced focused interviews on U.S. citizens or legal residents who might be victims, immigrants who could face additional scrutiny, and individuals who may not feel direct impact at all.
- Given the budget, we assume the policy can serve a substantial number of victims initially, but budget limits suggest prioritization might occur, potentially leaving some needs unmet.
- Wellbeing may improve for victims due to support services, but there could be fear or anxiety among immigrant communities that alters their perceived wellbeing.
- We included individuals with varied perspectives and impacts from none to high, reflecting both direct service to victims and broader societal concerns from such a policy.
Simulated Interviews
Real estate agent (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The VOICE Restoration Act seems to directly address needs similar to mine, where legal assistance can be complicated due to the perpetrator's immigration status.
- I hope it brings awareness and real aid, as my experience left me feeling helpless regarding restitution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
IT technician (Miami, Florida)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I support victim assistance, this Act might further stigmatize undocumented people as criminals, which isn't fair.
- I worry about increased fear in immigrant communities I work with.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Graphic designer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see this affecting me directly, but I dislike policies that might unfairly target and stigmatize minority groups.
- I believe it could cause unnecessary anxiety among undocumented communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Retired teacher (Austin, Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having been through the system, this act could make meaningful differences in handling cases like mine if done right.
- My main concern remains whether there will be adequate follow-through.”],
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- duration “3,”cantrilWellbeingAfterPolicy” {“year1”: 7,”year2”: 7,”year3”: 7,”year5”: 6,”year10”: 6,”year20”: 5} crew “,”cantrilWellbeingNoPolicy {“year1”: :
- year20”:9},
- commonness 7} crew },{BIo {
- bio” r}{burdock,”gender-man” }:{
- detal]{Bioregion “New York,”occupation” “Career Tea manufactory “Legal residurine
- suspects personal concern” over ineffective Victim assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
hospital administrium (+Orlando, Florital)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Act sounds promising in theory, as it alleges well-needed support. However, financial and manpower constraints could prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
PhD student (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this perspective neglects larger factors contributing to crime. Atmosphere of fear could escalate among the targeted community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Small business owner (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy adds bureaucratic burdens. Unclear if it effectively enhances security or wellbeing across the board.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Police officer (San Antonio, Texas)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might provide clarity in case management from a law enforcement angle, yet it doesn’t address root causes of crime.
- It could improve direct victim assistance, which is significant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support victim assistance but am skeptical about resource allocation and the policy shifting focus from broader issues.
- Public perception might shift negatively due to how narratives are presented.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $45000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $55000000)
Year 3: $45000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $55000000)
Year 5: $45000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $55000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Operation and maintenance costs fluctuate based on the number of cases handled annually and regional operational costs.
- Funding duration influences the continuity of support services offered to victims, particularly beyond the initial setup phase.
- Potential for political or public scrutiny affects the administration and perceived effectiveness of the program.