summary
Introduced
02/05/2025
02/05/2025
In Committee
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Victim Centered Approach Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney shall develop a program to represent noncitizen victims of violent crimes in the filing of victim remedies before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office administrative body. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney shall use any funding provided to the pilot program to represent or give counsel to 50 noncitizen victims annually for the next 5 years who were victimized by violent crimes in Lake County. Provides that the to be eligible for assistance under the program, an individual must: (1) be a noncitizen victim, who has never been placed in removal proceedings; (2) have suffered a violent crime in Lake County; and (3) not be barred from the immigration remedies before the administrative body. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population of more than 500,000, a State's Attorney may act, without fee or appointment, as an attorney to a noncitizen victim in an immigration case only if the noncitizen victim was victimized within the county the State's Attorney serves and is located within the geographic boundaries of the county served by the State's Attorney.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Victim Centered Approach Pilot Program in Lake County, which aims to provide free legal support to noncitizen victims of violent crimes. Specifically, the Lake County State's Attorney will develop a program to represent up to 50 noncitizen victims annually over the next 5 years in filing immigration remedies with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To qualify for assistance, an individual must be a noncitizen who: (1) has never been in removal proceedings, (2) was a victim of a violent crime in Lake County, and (3) is not barred from seeking immigration remedies. The program seeks to address barriers faced by noncitizen crime victims who cannot afford legal counsel, with the goal of helping survivors stabilize their legal and economic situations after experiencing a violent crime. The bill also amends the Counties Code to allow State's Attorneys in counties with over 500,000 residents to provide legal representation to noncitizen crime victims within their county's geographic boundaries without additional fees or appointments. The underlying purpose is to empower survivors by providing immediate legal services that can help them pursue legal status and begin recovering from their traumatic experiences.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (on 02/26/2026)
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