Immigration Policies & Remedies Affecting Survivors
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The Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS), co-chaired by the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, ASISTA Immigration Assistance, Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network, and Tahirih Justice Center, is a network of advocates and allies across the country dedicated to defending and advocating for policies that ensure immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other gender-based abuses have access to life-saving protections that all survivors of violence deserve.
Visit AIS for:
- The latest on immigration policy affecting immigrant survivor, and ways to take action
- Resources for advocates and service providers
- Ongoing trainings such as webinars
Materials on this topic have been developed with private foundation grants, unless otherwise indicated.
Related Resources
UPDATED Advisory: Are Victim Services Programs Liable for Criminal “Harboring” When they Work with Immigrant Survivors of Crime? 2022
This Advisory answers common questions about providing shelter and other program services to undocumented victims, describes the law and federal policy, and proposes best practices for programs
How do Recent ‘Public Charge’ Policy Changes Impact Immigrant Survivors of Crime?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing a new rule that put longstanding policy about the meaning and application of the “public charge” provisions of immigration law into regulation form. This advisory describes provisions under this new proposed rule and how it will impact immigrant survivors of violence, particularly in light of the pandemic.
Public Charge Final Rule: How will it impact immigrant survivors?
10/12/22 at 12:00 - 1:00pm PSTOn September 8, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final Public Charge rule, to go into effect on December 23, 2022. The rule strengthens public charge policies that had been in effect since March 2021, which...
API-GBV welcomes protections for immigrant survivors under the final public charge rule
September 8, 2022 This morning, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final Public Charge rule. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register for public inspection tomorrow, September 9th and will go into effect December 23rd....
Advisory: How Do Recent HUD Proposed Rules About Verification of Immigration Status Impact Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Assault?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed regulations that change longstanding policy relating to immigration status verification requirements and disallowing those ineligible for federal housing assistance (i.e., members of “mixed-status” households) from residing in HUD’s public and specified assisted housing programs. This advisory describes impacts of the proposed rule on immigrant survivors of violence
May 2019 Advocate & Legal Services Findings: Immigrant Survivors Fear Reporting Violence
In May 2019, a coalition of national organizations gathered feedback from nearly six hundred advocates and attorneys from across the United States, learning that many immigrant victims of domestic and sexual violence are now too afraid to call the police or go to court to get help. The advocates report that survivors have an increased fear of deportation, retaliation by their abusers, and separation from their children.
How Domestic Violence Impacts Immigrant Victims
This chapter in the Handbook of Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan provides an overview of abuser risks, community-generated, and system- generated risks impacting immigrant victims of intimate partner violence and summarizes resources intended to mitigate those risks.
FAQs: Immigration Enforcement and Victim Services Programs, 2017
These FAQs address common questions about responding to immigration enforcement activities at victim services programs.
How To Make Sure Immigrant Women Aren’t Left Out of Me Too
We need policies that ensure that all workers, whether they are employees or contractors, have access to safety and justice in the workplace.
Domestic Violence Awareness Must Be Inclusive of Immigrant Survivors, 2017
We must strengthen our resolve to make sure that our community response to domestic violence is truly relevant to all survivors.
The Effects of Increased Entanglement on Immigrant Survivors
Why increased entanglement between immigration and state/local law enforcement would undermine protections for immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Immigration 101: A Webinar for Domestic Violence Victim Advocates
A basic overview of immigration system, removal (deportation) proceedings and detention, protections for domestic violence survivors, and recent updates under the new administration.
Protecting Assets and Child Custody in the Face of Deportation, 2017
This manual from Appleseed Network is designed for immigrants and those who work with them; the host of attorneys, nurses, social workers, religious workers who are stepping up in challenging times. Appleseed’s manual will help families develop plans in advance to deal with critical financial and family issues in the event of deportation, arrest and other family emergencies.
Other Resources
Find immigration legal services:
- Immigration Advocates Network: National Immigration Legal Services Directory
- immi.org: Search for Legal Help
American Immigration Lawyers Association: a national association promoting justice, advocating for fair and reasonable immigration and policy, and advancing the quality of immigration and nationality law and policy
ASISTA Help: provides national leadership, advocacy, training, and technical assistance to those working with crime survivors seeking to secure immigration status, especially those who have suffered gender-based violence
California Immigrant Policy Center: promotes and protects safety, health and public benefits and integration programs for immigrants in California, effectively combining legislative and policy advocacy, strategic communications, organizing and capacity building. Its resources include the Looking Forward: Immigrant Contributions to the Golden State series and Know Your Rights palm cards in many languages.
Inside the Numbers: How Immigration Shapes Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities (2019): by Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Informed Immigrant: Resources 101: Important Info for Immigrants & Allies provides curated information on advocacy campaigns, mental health, immigrant rights, and more.
National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Program: educates, trains, offers technical assistance and public policy advocacy, and conducts research to assist professionals who work with and/or whose work affects immigrant women and children. Also maintains an extensive web library on immigration, confidentiality, and other topics
National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild: promotes justice and equality of treatment in all areas of immigration law, the criminal justice system, and social policies related to immigration through technical assistance and support to legal practitioners, immigrant communities, community-based organizations, and all advocates seeking to advance the rights of noncitizens
Tahirih Justice Center: serves individuals fleeing violence and advocates for immigration reform that would increase protections for immigrant victims of domestic violence through direct services, policy advocacy, and training and education
VAWnet Special Collection on domestic violence in immigrant communities