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S. 4644 (117th): Voice for Victims Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Jul 27, 2022 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

Summary of this bill

According to these Republicans, Biden is like the Greek goddess Hera, because he can take away your VOICE.

Context

Within his first week in office, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the creation of an office for victims of crimes committed by “removable aliens,” or immigrants eligible for deportation. Three months later, In April 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement office, nicknamed VOICE.

“All crime is terrible, but these victims are unique — and too often ignored,” then-Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said in a press release announcing the office. “They are casualties of crimes that …

II

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4644

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 27, 2022

(for himself and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To reestablish the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement Office to provide proactive, timely, adequate, and professional services to victims of crimes committed by removable aliens and the family members of such victims.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Voice for Victims Act.

2.

Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement Office

(a)

Reestablishment

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall direct the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take all appropriate and lawful action to reestablish, within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement Office (referred to in this Act as the VOICE Office, which shall provide proactive, timely, adequate, and professional services to victims of crimes committed by removable aliens and the family members of such victims.

(b)

Quarterly reports

The VOICE Office shall submit quarterly reports to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that examine the effects of the victimization of United States nationals by criminal aliens who are present in the United States.

(c)

Expansion of functions of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman To include assistance for victims of crimes committed by aliens or border violence

Section 452(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 272(b)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively;

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

to work with the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement Office to assist individuals and families who have been the victims of crimes committed by aliens or violence near the United States border;

; and

(3)

in paragraph (4), as redesignated, by striking (2) and inserting (3).