EFTA01653126

In Reply, Please Refer to 26 Federal Plaza File No. 50D-NY-3027571 New York, New York 10278 USCIS 38 River Road Essex Junction, Vermont 05479 Attention: Humanitarian Division June_, 2024 : Continuous physical presence in the United States for assistance with criminal investigation Dear USCIS: cooperated in a federal investigation regarding Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. and her counsel began working with the investigation in 2019. The investigation continued through at least 2020 and 2021, during which time provided substantial assistance and remained available to our office. It is our understanding that departed the United States on three occasions — January 11, 2020, August 4, 2020, and February 13, 2021 — while she was cooperating with our investigation. It is our understanding that each of those departures was in connection with ensuring that she remained in lawful status, and eligible to extend that status, so she could continue assisting in the ongoing investigation. returned each time and continued her cooperation. In January 2020, with notice to our office, left the United States to renew her E-2 visa, which would continue her lawful presence and availability to our office. She had, at that point, recently met with our office four times. She was also the subject of death threats as a result of her being a victim of EFTA01653126 sex trafficking. At that time those threats were investigated by our office and found to be credible. cooperation was substantial and ongoing. On July 6, 2020, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York advised counsel that the office and the FBI were prepared to help her apply for Continued Presence as a victim of trafficking who is assisting law enforcement. As a consequence, on July 14, 2020, and counsel traveled to the FBI offices in Manhattan where she was fingerprinted, photographed, and completed the application for Continued Presence, supported by our office. At that time the FBI was aware that the "admit until date" on her CBP admission stamp was August 4, 2020. With prior notice to the FBI, left the United States on August 4, 2020, and returned to the United States that same day, so that she could obtain an admission stamp to extend her lawful status and continue cooperation with our office. Since her status had been continued, there was no need to pursue the Continued Presence application at that time. Our office was aware that in February 2021, intended to briefly leave the United States solely to extend her lawful status further in order to continue to cooperate with law enforcement for as long as needed. departed and quickly returned on February 15, 2021, to resume her cooperation in the pending criminal investigation. was brought to the United States on account of a severe form of trafficking in persons. She has been physically present and always available to assist law enforcement with ongoing investigations. Our office supports application for a T visa. Please let us know if you have any questions or require any additional information. EFTA01653127