Sobrevivientes inmigrantes de la violencia doméstica podrán perder las protecciones de la VAWA que son importantes para la seguridad

Oponga la versión de la VAWA (HR 4970) del representador Adams

¡Ayude salvar VAWA! 

Antecedentes:

El martes pasado, el Comité Judicial de la Cámara de Representantes votó a favor de cambiar radicalmente el “proyecto de ley de reautorización de la ley VAWA.” Estos cambios tienen como objetivo la seguridad de los inmigrantes (al igual que los nativos americanos y la comunidad LGBT) sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica. Invierte las provisiones de la VAWA, que aumentan la seguridad y confidencialidad de los sobrevivientes de los inmigrantes.

Lo que está en juego:

La versión de Adams de la VAWA (HR 4970)…

• Pone el sobreviviente en peligro de deportación inmediata por denunciar el abuso

• Reduce la seguridad de la víctima y sus hijos

• Elimina el derecho a la confidencialidad

• Niega la elegibilidad de los sobrevivientes inmigrantes para una Visa-U (una vía legal de residencia permanente)

• Disuade la denuncia de abuso y reduce la seguridad de la comunidad

• Re-traumatiza a las víctimas

• Eleva los estándares de prueba de abuso para las mujeres inmigrantes en casos de violencia doméstica

• Resulta en una reducción de procesamientos y aumenta la posibilidad de conducta criminal

• Subestima el sufrimiento de los sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica

La versión dañina de ADAMS se votará el mártes, 15 de mayo en la Cámara de Representantes. ACTUE AHORA.

(¡Palabra de ello es que la mayoría republicana va a bloquear el debate en la Cámara!)

1.  ¡Por favor llame a su Representate del congress AHORA! Diles…
1. “Hola, mi nombre es ________.  Soy constituyente del Representante __________.  Yo opongo la version de la VAWA de Adams (HR 4970) y pido que el Representate oponga la version de Adams – que pone las vidas de las víctimas de violencia doméstica.”
2. Si el representante no es consciente de la versión de Adams, aún no ha decidido en su posición o dice que apoyará la versión de Adams, comparte al menos una de las siguientes razones:
1. “Sobrevivientes inmigrantes necesitan el derecho a reportar con confidencialidad, que será eliminado en la versión de Adams.”
2. “Sobrevivientes inmigrantes necesitan confidencialidad y servicios de apoyo para llevar a juicio.
3. “¡Al cabo que se acerquen las elecciones de Noviembre, no nos olvidaremos al Representante y su partido si votan contra las víctimas de la violencia!“
4. ¡Ningún sobreviviente, inmigrante o ciudadano, debe ser castigado por reportar su abuso!
3. ¡Si el Representante opondrá la versión de Adams, por favor de le las gracias!

El número del Congreso es: : (202) 224-3121
o encuentre la línea directa de su Representante aquí: http://house.gov/

4. Por favor llame también a Liderazco de la Camara (House Leadership) y diles que crees que H.R. 4970 pondrá en peligro a las víctimas y pide que se permita el debate en el pleno de la Cámara.

Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence Targeted
to Lose VAWA Protections Which are Critical to Their Safety
Oppose the Rep. Adams’ version of VAWA (HR 4970)
Help save VAWA!

Background:
This past Tuesday evening the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives voted to radically change the “Reauthorization bill for VAWA.”  These changes target the safety of immigrant (as well as Native Americans and the LGBT community) domestic violence survivors. It reverses the VAWA provisions which increases the safety and confidentiality of immigrant survivors. 

What is at stake:

The Adams version of VAWA (HR4970)…

• Puts the survivor in danger of immediate deportation by reporting abuse
• Reduces the safety of the victim and their children
• Removes the right to confidentiality
• Negates eligibility for a U-Visa- (a legal pathway to permanent status) for immigrant survivors
• Discourages reporting of abuse reducing community safety
• Re-traumatizes victims
• Raises the standards of prooffor immigrant women in domestic violence cases
• Results in fewer prosecutions, increasing potential criminal behaviors
• Belittles the suffering experienced by domestic violence survivors

The harmful ADAMS version will be voted on
Tuesday, May 15th in the full House of Representatives.
ACT NOW.
 (Word has it that the Republican majority
will block debate on the House floor!)

1.  Please call your Congressional representative NOW! Tell them…
   1. “Hello, my name is ________.  I am a constituent of Representative __________.  I oppose the Adams version of VAWA (HR 4970) and request that the Representative OPPOSE the Adams’ version – which puts immigrant survivors of domestic violence in danger.”
2. If the Representative is unaware of the Adams’ version, has not yet decided on their position or states they will support the Adams’ version, share at least oneof the following reasons:
   1. “Immigrant survivors need the right to confidentiality to report, which will be removed under the Adams version.
   2.  “Immigrant survivors need confidentiality and support services maintained, to lead to prosecution.”
   3. “With the November elections nearing, we will not forget the Representative and his/her party if they vote against victims of violence!
   4. No survivor, immigrant or not, should be punished for reporting abuse!
3. If the Representative will Oppose the Adams’ version, please thank them!

The Congressional Switchboard number is: 202-224-3121
or find your Representative’s direct line at: http://house.gov/

4. Please also call House Leadership and tell them you think H.R. 4970 HARMS VICTIMS and request that debate be allowed on the House floor.

House Bill Rolls Back Protections and Places Immigrant Victims in Grave Danger

May 10, 2012

What: Members of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence will be joined by U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky to explain how HR4970, the House Republican version of the Violence Against Women reauthorization bill, guts the historically bipartisan bill and puts women and immigrant victims of violence in danger.

When: Friday, May 11, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern/9:30 a.m. Central/ 7:30 a.m. Pacific

Call-in information:
Title: Violence Against Women Act
Dial: 1.800.434.1335    Conference Code: 316641#

Who:
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rob Valente, spokesperson, National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Mony Ruiz-Velasco, director of legal services, National Immigrant Justice Center; immigration co-chair, National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Rosie Hidalgo, director of public policy, Casa de Esperanza
Eric Sigmon, director for advocacy, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Erica, immigrant mother who was able to leave her abusive husband thanks to VAWA

Why:
This week the U.S. Congress House Judiciary Committee, in a 17-15 vote, passed HR4970, a bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Contrary to its name and the long history and spirit of VAWA, HR4970 rolls back protections and places immigrant victims in grave danger at the hands of their abusers. The bill eliminates important provisions that, for almost 20 years, have successfully provided protection to immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking.

HR4970 places immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other violent crimes in danger of further harm and would make critical VAWA protections, including the U visa, nearly inaccessible for many victims. Under HR4970, immigration officials can get input from abusers about their victims’ case, alerting perpetrators to the fact that their victims are seeking protection, and potentially triggering additional violence against the victims. Victims who are able to secure U visas would lose their status after a few years, leaving victims vulnerable to brutal retaliation.

Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) has been fighting for the American dream since its founding in 1996. One of the nation’s largest non-profit immigration law firms, AI Justice represents vulnerable immigrants at no charge. This direct service work informs its broader policy work. AI Justice influences national policy; successfully litigates or otherwise challenges patterns of abuse; and educates the public about the impact immigration laws and directives have on our communities. AI Justice is dedicated to protecting and promoting the basic human rights of immigrants. Please visitwww.aijustice.org for more information.

By Kerry Kennedy

On April 25, 1963, my father, Robert F. Kennedy, then the U.S. attorney General, came to Alabama to ask Gov. George Wallace to stop discriminating against black people. That morning, Wallace raised the Confederate battle flag over the Capitol, where he and my father would meet. His answer would be “no.”

I was recently invited to dinner at the Alabama Capitol by the state’s current governor. I was part of a group led by U.S. Rep. John Lewis that has come to commemorate “Bloody Sunday,” the day in 1965 when state troopers beat civil rights marchers as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.

Click here to read more.

For Immediate Release

May 7, 2012

Washington D.C. - As the House Judiciary Committee prepares to consider reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), numerous questions have arisen about the important immigration provisions that help to protect victims of domestic violence, trafficking and violent crime. In response, the Immigration Policy Center releases a new fact sheet that provides basic information on the key protections: the U visa, the T visa, and self-petitioning for battered spouses.

With approximately 19 million immigrant women and girls in the United States, nearly half of the foreign-born population is female. Unfortunately, many of these immigrant women, particularly those who are unauthorized, are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Immigrant women are more likely to experience exploitation while entering the country, while working, and even within their homes.  For these and other reasons, federal law provides numerous forms of protection, including special visas, for immigrant women.

To view the fact sheet in its entirety see:

• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Provides Protections for Immigrant Women and Victims of Crime (IPC Fact Check, May, 2012)

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For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org of 202-507-7524.