Speech #1090100852

I understand that the term "at least one central reason" is intended to mean that the they delay in filing was caused by. or related to. the child abuse or incest and its concurrent process or victimization. Section 811 defines a "VAWA petitioner as an alien who has applied for classification or relief under a number of provisions of the INA. I want to emphasize the importance of the fact that the law assures that adjudication of all forms of immigration relief related to domestic violence. sexual assault. trafficking or victims of violent crime continue to be adjudicated by the specially trained VAWA unit. In 1997. the Immigration and Naturalization Service consolidated adjudication of VAWA selfpetitions and VAWArelated cases in one specially trained unit that adjudicates all VAWA immigration cases nationally. The unit was created "to ensure sensitive and expeditious processing of the petitions filed by this class of atrisk applicants . . .". to "[engender] uniformity in the adjudication of all applications of this type" and to "[enhance] the Services ability to be more responsive to inquiries from applicants. their representatives. and benefit granting agencies." See 62 Fed. Reg. 1660716608 (1997). T visa and U visa adjudications were also consolidated in the specially trained VAWA unit. (See. USCIS Interoffice Memorandum HQINV 50/1. August 30. 2001. from Michael D. Cronin to Michael A.