Thread: Escapando de la violencia

LUNES 26 de Marzo de 2007




Escaping violence
EDITORIAL - 03/26/2007



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Otros Titulares
Escapando de la violencia


Several local and national campaigns are bringing domestic violence to the forefront of public consciousness. But even with growing awareness about this crime, immigrant women are less likely to report abuse. Language barriers, culturally-imposed guilt and a misperception of domestic violence as simply a private matter can force immigrant and native Latinas to suffer in silence.


For undocumented immigrant women, the problem is worse. Many believe they have no recourse, and that reporting domestic violence will put them at risk of deportation. That fear builds when batterers withhold documents that victims may need, threaten to not file paper work for their legal status, or say that they will turn their victims over to immigration authorities.



A federal law calls the bluff of these batterers. Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), undocumented women can report domestic violence without losing the opporrtunity to legalize their status.



VAWA protects domestic violence victims whose immigration status depends on their marriage to a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Through VAWA, undocumented domestic violence victims can apply for immigrant visas on their own. This VAWA provision also applies to children who were abused by a parent.



Each year, thousands of petitions are filed under VAWA, with the vast majority of them approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.



Undocumented victims of domestic violence and other crimes should also be aware that in New York City, they are not obligated to reveal their legal status to police officers. Limited English speakers can approach bilingual officers and precincts, which are equipped with interpretation devices. Victims can also approach organizations like the the Dominican Women`s Development Center for help or call the NYC domestic violence hotline at 800-621-4673.












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http://www.eldiariony.com/noticias/deta ... id=1609040

this is bogus, latino community leaders just use this excuse to get simphaty only. there are many abuses against women in all races ,some get reported and some don't and some not,