Thread: CONN-State help offered to abused immigrants

State help offered to abused immigrants
KEN DIXON
Article Last Updated: 08/05/2008 12:43:23 AM EDT


HARTFORD — Citing the reluctance of immigrants to report domestic abuse, Speaker of the House James A. Amann on Monday appointed a task force to help those afflicted to no longer suffer in silence.
During a morning news conference in the Legislative Office Building, Amann,D-Milford, said immigrants often don't understand our legal and justice systems and the help available to them.

"There's no doubt that one of the most critical responsibilities of government and our community is to lend helping hands to those most vulnerable," Amann said.

Legal-status issues also suppress reports of domestic violence in immigrant communities.

"Domestic violence is an insidious problem that plagues too many of our immigrant households, and, worse, we really don't know how deep the problem is, given the reluctance of victims to come forward," Amann said.

"The fact is that victims are essentially trapped in a cycle of abuse, feeling as if they have no recourse, something no person should have to tolerate or accept," he said.

Panel members will include representatives from the Connecticut Catholic Conference, the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, among others.

The group had its first meeting rightafterward. It is charged with analyzing current state laws against domestic violence, studying available support for victims

and creating recommendations for the General Assembly.
Amann, stressing that he doesn't want to stray into the issue of illegal immigration with this panel, said domestic violence seemed to be a bigger problem among the undocumented.

"No one should have to live in fear," Amann said. "Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own homes. Every domestic-violence victim deserves protection and support."

Michael C. Culhane, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, said the state's bishops have been concerned for years about immigrant communities and issued a pastoral statement in May on the issue.

Agnes Maldonado, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the task force "is clearly needed" at a time when more foreign-born people are moving to the state. Some, she said, fear disclosing their personal stories because of their legal status.

"We need to make sure they feel safe during not only the day, but at night," she said. "One of the ways to protect women is to educate the community." She stressed the need to tell immigrant communities that their assistance is free and confidential.

Robert Fishman, president of the Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, said the state is a "welcoming" one for immigrants, but part of the panel's challenge will be to get a better grip on the extent of immigrant children and women populations.


http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_10098567

TAXPAYERS ARE WRITING THE CHECKS STILL

All benefits and services extended to illegals must be eliminated...The American tax payers dont' want to pay for them any more... if the illegals want to feel safe they need to go back to their country of origin...we don't owe them anything!