“To authorize grants for crime victims to be distributed to angel families, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises state crime victim compensation program eligibility criteria under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) to include "angel families." Specifically, it (1) amends subsection (b)(1) to authorize compensation to victims and survivors of criminal violence for medical expenses (including mental health counseling), loss of wages, and funeral expenses attributable to physical injury or death from a compensable crime, and to angel families for medical expenses (including mental health counseling) attributable to any injury, loss of wages attributable to emotional distress, and funeral expenses attributable to death from a compensable crime; and (2) adds subsection (d)(6) to define "angel family" as the immediate family members of an individual who is a victim of homicide committed by (A) an unlawfully present alien under section 212(a)(6)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or (B) a member of an international criminal organization involved in trafficking controlled substances, including an international drug cartel.
This section establishes within the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Secretary the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office to provide proactive, timely, and professional services to victims of crimes—and their family members—committed by aliens inadmissible under INA §212(a) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), removable under INA §237(a) (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)), or otherwise unlawfully present in the United States. The office, headed by a Director, must (1) create a hotline to offer support (including information on immigration enforcement and removal processes, social services referrals, and resource connections), assist with custody status notifications, provide releasable criminal and immigration history on the perpetrator, deliver immediate services, and collect service metrics; and (2) conduct a case study on such services. Not later than one year after enactment—and annually thereafter—the Director must report to Congress on the case study's summary and data regarding victim and perpetrator demographics, crime locations and types, and repeat offenses by perpetrators. This section also makes a conforming change to the Homeland Security Act table of contents.