U VISA CERTIFICATION ACT

SB 177, the U Visa Certification Act, creates a state process for New Mexico agencies to certify victims of qualifying crimes for federal U visas. It directly affects crime victims who have assisted law enforcement with investigations, including those experiencing domestic violence, trafficking, or assault. The bill requires certifying agencies (like police departments or district attorneys) to process certification requests within 30 days (14 days for urgent cases), provide written denial reasons with appeal options, and establish internal review steps before victims can seek state department of justice review. This replaces the current federal-only certification process with a streamlined state system to help victims access immigration relief.