Immigrants who have survived a violent crime have waited for years for the Department of Homeland Security to release U visa regulations that will offer them some immigration protection. The new U visa rule was finally announced Wednesday, and is expected to be posted to the Federal Register this week.

Congress first created the visa in 2000 when it passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, but it has taken seven years for the U.S. government to release regulations that will allow the visa to be implemented. More than 8,000 survivors of violent crime have applied for the visa since then, and they will now have to re-apply to receive the benefit.

Because the government has only given U visa applicants 180 days after the regulations are enacted to re-apply, public outreach in immigrant communities will be essential to ensure that individuals who need this protection will remain eligible.

Read more about the U visa in the statement NIJC released today.