Domestic Violence and Battered Immigrant Women

Many battered immigrant women are afraid to leave a violent relationship until their immigration concerns are addressed. Undocumented battered immigrant women face threats of deportation by their abusers. Their abusers often threaten to withdraw support of their immigration petitions, and feed them misinformation about the laws in this country. In many cases, the abuser speaks better English than the woman and is able to talk his way out of being arrested when police come to the scene. For these and many other reasons, immigrant women may be reluctant to come forth and ask for assistance.

Battered immigrant women need to know that the Violence Against Women Act provides ways for them to get legal status in the U.S., if their husband is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.