National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild

Victims of Crimes, including Intimate Partner Violence

For more than fifteen years, the National Immigration Project has played a leading role in expanding legal rights for noncitizens under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and other related legislation, providing legal support to advocates and attorneys around the U.S. who are working with undocumented victims of abuse and other crimes, and working to develop policies and practices within the Department of Homeland Security that support the rights of victims of crimes and intimate partner violence.

A noncitizen victim of a crime, especially intimate partner violence, faces unique barriers to justice. Immigrant victims fear that reporting violent crime to law enforcement and working with the criminal justice system will expose them to deportation. Similarly, these victims fear that access to traditional victim support systems may result in permanent banishment from the U.S. and separation from their children and families. Fortunately, noncitizen survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other crimes can attain legal status without having to rely on the support or testimony of their abusers. Director of Legal Advocacy Ellen Kemp is the primary contact for technical assistance and educational materials for the Project’s attorney members, legal workers, advocates, law students, detainees, and the public regarding immigration options for noncitizen survivors of crimes, including survivors of intimate partner violence.

Partnerships

National Network to End Violence against Immigrant Women

Listservs

For information about listservs devoted to issues affecting victims of crime and intimate partner violence, click here.

Resources

For resources relating to issues affecting victims of crime and intimate partner violence, click here.

Supporters march to the Mexican Consulate.

New York City October 7, 2006