Victims Engagement and Services Line (VESL) has recently been formed to be an inclusive victim support system.
Not only is the former president gone, so now is his divisive program referred to as VOICE – Victim of Immigration Crime Engagement. VOICE’s sole purpose was to bring focus on any crime committed by an immigrant – ostensibly to fire up his anti-immigrant base.
On June 11, Homeland Security announced that VOICE has been terminated and VESL – Victim Engagement and Services Line has begun. This hotline is meant to actually provide services to any person who is victim of a crime – no matter what their citizen or immigrant status might be.
“Providing assistance to society’s most vulnerable is a core American value. All people, regardless of their immigration status, should be able to access victim services without fear,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This administration is committed to providing a reliable source of information and guidance for all victims irrespective of their status.”
“As a federal law enforcement agency, ICE is committed to serving all victims of crime,” said Acting ICE Director Tae D. Johnson. “Through VESL, ICE is better positioned than ever to uphold this commitment. ICE has never and will never ask those seeking help about their immigration status and will provide these services without regard to a victim’s immigration status or the status of their perpetrator.”
A new telephone number will be issued to complement the newly established VESL. This new line will feature an automated prompt system with tiered options. Callers will be provided with options including ICE’s longstanding Detention Reporting and Information Line (DRIL), Victim Information and Notification Exchange (VINE) and Victim Notification System Access (VNS), and Victim Assistance Support. Callers will also be provided information on ICE field office locations, and referred to the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
from Homeland Security Today.us
Three key functions of the new program provide:
- The ability to report incidents of physical or sexual abuse in ICE detention.
- Push notifications about custody status and case outcomes to victims, lawyers and those with vested interests.
- Victim assistance to human trafficking victims & child exploitation victims.
ACTION REQUESTED:
If you know of someone who’s been afraid to report issues for fear of deportation, let them know about this change of policy, thanks to the current administration. More information on the expanded service offerings can be found at www.ice.gov/VESL. Individuals seeking victim support may reach out to 1-833-383-1465.
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