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Immigrant Women
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Immigrant Battered Women's Project
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Battered immigrant women who do not have legal immigration documents
to reside in the United States face serious challenges to obtaining
safety and freedom from abuse. These women suffer the terror of
domestic violence made worse by language and cultural barriers.
Immigrant battered women are often unfamiliar with the American
justice system, are fearful of police, and are powerless to counter
the abuser's control over them.
Life Span's Immigrant Battered Women's Project
offers hope to these women, and a real opportunity to improve their
lives and the lives of their children.
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Elena, who came to this country from
Mexico,
lived for years with her citizen husband despite his
frequent beatings. Elena had met and began a relationship with
her husband Jim while he was working in Mexico, and came to
the U.S. to marry him when he was transferred back to Chicago.
Once they lived here, Jim repeatedly promised to file
immigration papers for Elena, but he kept putting it off. Once
Elena got pregnant, Jim started hitting her. When their child
was born, Jim told Elena she must obey him or he would have
her deported. Jim told her that if she tried to leave him, he
would prevent her from taking their baby with her. Elena, who
spoke only Spanish and had no friends or family in Chicago,
felt that she was at Jim's mercy. When Elena became pregnant
again, Jim became more violent. He pushed her down the stairs,
causing her to suffer a miscarriage. Although Elena was
terrified that she would be forced to return to Mexico,
leaving her daughter behind, she sought help at Life Span.
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Life Span's Immigrant Battered Women's Project attorneys responded immediately.
Both the paralegal and the attorney in this project speak Spanish,
so they were able to communicate with Elena. To keep Elena and her
baby safe, the attorney filed an Order of Protection case for her,
providing her with protection from Jim's abuse. The Order of Protection
gave Elena temporary custody of her daughter and prevented Jim from
coming to their house. Elena was tremendously relieved to learn
she is eligible to seek lawful immigration status under the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA). This federal law allows battered women married to abusers who are citizens or
permanent residents to file immigration papers on their own behalf,
and not depend on the abusive husband to petition for them.
Life Span attorneys began the lengthy and complicated process of
preparing Elena's VAWA petition. The attorney will file the documents,
assist Elena in the collection of evidence, and represent her in
any immigration proceedings. Life Span's assistance gives Elena
the freedom to end her relationship with Jim, knowing that she can
stay in the United States legally and raise her daughter in the
country of her birth. Our Immigration Project helps hundreds of
women like Elena each year seek lawful immigration status, ensuring
that these clients can seek safety without fear of deportation.
To learn more about this project or to refer a client, please call: Life Span's Center for Legal Services and Advocacy at 312/408-1210.
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Speak and Act for Change and
Justice through RESPECT...EMPOWERMENT....EDUCATION....VALIDATION
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