Immigrants Fear a Choice Between Domestic Violence and Deportation
News
Mother Jones
March 20, 2017

“Under the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, immigrant victims of domestic violence can qualify for special protections. U-visas, for example,  help victims live independently of their abusers by providing them with work authorization and temporary legal status on the condition that they assist law enforcement in any related investigation. There are a limited number of these visas available each year, but many applicants are able to avoid deportation while they await a final decision on their application. VAWA also prohibits DHS from using information from an undocumented immigrant’s abuser to arrest or deport the victim, unless the victim has been convicted of serious crimes.”

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