Bill Overview
Title: Justice for Victims of Open Borders Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires a state crime victim compensation program, in order to be eligible for grants, to certify that it prioritizes making payments to victims of crimes committed by individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
Target Audience
Population: Victims of crimes by unlawfully present individuals
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill affects victims of crimes committed by individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States, as it addresses compensation prioritization.
- All states with crime victim compensation programs will be influenced since they must comply with this certification to remain eligible for grants.
- Crime victims in the United States, specifically those victimized by undocumented immigrants, are the primary population impacted.
- There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S., increasing the likelihood of crimes being committed by individuals who are unlawfully present.
- Crime victim compensation programs serve thousands of individuals annually; this bill particularly impacts recipients whose perpetrators are undocumented.
Reasoning
- The policy is designed to prioritize crime victim compensation for victims of crimes committed by individuals who are unlawfully present in the U.S., which should positively affect this subgroup of victims by potentially providing faster and more assured access to compensation.
- The policy's impact on the overall population is limited by the budget and the target population. With a budget allocation, it suggests the number of people directly benefiting from the policy is a subset of the broader group of crime victims.
- There are numerous individuals who may not directly benefit from this policy, including those victimized by crimes not involving undocumented individuals or those who are impacted by crime but choose not to engage with the compensation process for various reasons.
- Given the millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and potential crimes associated with them, prioritizing these victims does bring into focus an often discussed area of public policy related to immigration and crime.
Simulated Interviews
Hairdresser (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's good that they are prioritizing people like me. I have kids to feed, and the robbery set me way back.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Construction Worker (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could mean I'll have an easier time getting help after what happened.
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 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Teacher (Houston, Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it addresses victims' needs, but it doesn't affect me personally.
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 |
Shop Owner (New York, New York)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopefully this means I can finally get some financial assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Bartender (Miami, Florida)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It might give me a way to lessen the financial hit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Student (San Francisco, California)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a fair policy, though it doesn't affect me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives me hope for some restitution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel indifferent since it doesn't change my situation.
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 |
Nurse (Austin, Texas)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad they're considering victims like us. We need the help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Veteran (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be helpful if faster compensation is involved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 2: $12200000 (Low: $8200000, High: $16200000)
Year 3: $12400000 (Low: $8400000, High: $16400000)
Year 5: $12800000 (Low: $8800000, High: $16800000)
Year 10: $13600000 (Low: $9600000, High: $17600000)
Year 100: $20000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $24000000)
Key Considerations
- State compliance will depend on available administrative resources and funding.
- Demand for victim compensation funds is variable and dependent on crime rates involving undocumented individuals.
- The scope of victim eligibility and entitlement can vary greatly between states.
- Determining and documenting unlawful status of perpetrators may incur legal and procedural costs.