The Justice for Angel Families Act expands crime victim compensation programs to include "angel families"—immediate family members of people killed by unlawfully present immigrants or members of international drug trafficking organizations. The bill amends existing victim compensation laws to allow states to use federal crime victim grants to compensate these families for funeral expenses, lost wages from emotional distress, and mental health counseling. Additionally, the legislation creates a new Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within the Department of Homeland Security to provide support services to crime victims and families affected by crimes committed by deportable or unlawfully present aliens, including a dedicated hotline and case tracking information. The office must submit annual reports to Congress detailing victim demographics, crime locations and types, and whether offenders committed multiple crimes. No specific funding amount is specified in the legislation, though implementation must begin within one year of enactment.
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