This July 18, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) publicly warned that the U visa program-designed to protect foreign crime victims who cooperate with law enforcement-is being “exploited by scammers.”
Including corrupt lawyers and agents, in a context that puts both real immigrants and the legal system at risk.
What does this alert consist of?
Through the X platform, USCIS called the U visa program a “great idea that failed” due to mismanagement and corruption.
Spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser explained that criminals, along with unscrupulous lawyers and corrupt agents, have exploited U visas.
This compromises the essence of the program: helping credible and cooperative victims to justice.
How do scams operate?
USCIS details several types of fraud:
Creating fake victims: people make up crime stories to get police certification and visa.
Bribes to police and lawyers: as revealed in a recent case in Louisiana, where several police chiefs and a businessman conspired to issue false reports for $5,000 each, affecting hundreds of immigrants.
Unfounded applications: they are filed with the purpose of delaying deportations or gaining access to work permits, thus saturating the program.
Impact and alarming figures
By law, only 10,000 U visas are issued per year to principal applicants; derivative family members are outside the limit.
From 2017 through 2025, USCIS received 266,293 petitions, implying that, without addressing new petitions, it would take more than 20 years to resolve all cases.
USCIS called the U visa program a 'great idea gone terribly wrong'
QuéOnnda.com
This excess of requests had already been warned by the DHS Office of Inspector General in 2022.
They pointed out the “inadequate management” and vulnerability to fraud.
USCIS Actions and Perspectives
In response, USCIS strengthened integrity checks, trained its fraud detectors and warned migrants about suspicious offers-especially those suggesting payment to expedite visas.
You are encouraged to report scams on the official USCIS website.
For many undocumented immigrants, the U visa represents a legal opportunity to regularize their status by reporting crimes such as domestic violence or human trafficking.
However, fraud undermines confidence in the system and diverts resources and benefits away from those who truly need them.
In addition, program overcrowding lengthens waiting times and leaves real victims at risk, making it difficult for them to access legal protection and authorized employment.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
