I 

119TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 47 

To establish the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within 

the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2025 

Mr. BERGMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To establish the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement 

Office within the Department of Homeland Security, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Victims Of Immigra5 tion Crime Engagement Restoration Act’’ or as the 

6 ‘‘VOICE Restoration Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

8 Congress finds the following: 

9 (1) In April 2017, the United States Depart10 ment of Homeland Security launched the U.S. ImVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:48 Jan 28, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H47.IH H47

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1 migration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Victims 

2 of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE) 

3 in response to the Executive Order 13768 issued by 

4 President Donald J. Trump entitled Enhancing 

5 Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, 

6 which directed DHS to create an office to support 

7 victims of crimes committed by criminal aliens. 

8 (2) In June 2021, the United States Depart9 ment of Homeland Security terminated VOICE pur10 suant to the Executive order on the Revision of Civil 

11 Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities 

12 issued by President R. Joseph Jr. 

13 SEC. 3. VICTIMS OF IMMIGRATION CRIME ENGAGEMENT 

14 OFFICE. 

15 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Vic16 tims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (herein17 after in this Act referred to as ‘‘VOICE’’) within the U.S. 

18 Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which shall pro19 vide assistance to victims of crimes committed by aliens 

20 present in the United States without lawful status under 

21 the immigration laws, in addition to witnesses and legal 

22 representatives of individuals acting at the request of a 

23 victim or witness. 

24 (b) DUTIES.—The duties of VOICE are to do the fol25 lowing: 


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1 (1) Use a victim-centered approach to acknowl2 edge and support persons who are victims or wit3 nesses described in subsection (a) and their families. 

4 (2) Promote awareness of available services to 

5 such persons. 

6 (3) Build collaborative partnerships with com7 munity stakeholders assisting such persons. 

8 (c) ASSISTANCE.—The types of assistance authorized 

9 to be provided by VOICE to such persons impacted by 

10 crimes committed by aliens described in subsection (a) in11 cludes— 

12 (1) the establishment and operation of a dedi13 cated toll-free VOICE Hotline to answer questions 

14 from victims; 

15 (2) local contacts to help with unique requests 

16 from such persons; 

17 (3) access to social service professionals able to 

18 refer victims to resources and service providers; 

19 (4) assistance signing up to receive automated 

20 custody status information regarding an alien de21 scribed in subsection (a) held in custody; and 

22 (5) additional criminal or immigration history 

23 may be available about an illegal alien to victims or 

24 their families. 


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1 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

2 of the enactment of this Act, VOICE shall publish quar3 terly reports to Congress, the Secretary of Homeland Se4 curity, and the President of the United States studying 

5 the effects of the victimization by aliens described in sub6 section (a) present in the United States. 

Æ 


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