Protecting Immigrant Women and Children on #GivingTuesday

Some words I use to describe myself: immigrant, attorney, woman, Liberian. And, sexual assault survivor. I moved to the United States in my teens, and because I no longer have an accent, I blend in, “passing” as American-born. This privilege, however, has not insulated me from the vulnerabilities faced by immigrant women, mostly the risk of intimate partner violence. I am intimately familiar with the emotional, physical, and social baggage that accompanies a traumatizing event like sexual assault. For me, this is personal.

For five years now, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been celebrated as #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving. After a brutal presidential campaign, the outcome of which has left many marginalized communities feeling vulnerable for the next four years, on this #GivingTuesday, let’s protect a particularly vulnerable community: immigrant women survivors of sexual assault.

The face of immigration in the United States is more female than male. In 2011, 51.1 percent of foreign-born people residing in the United States were women. Immigrant women are at a particularly high risk for domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Nationally, 59.5 percent of married immigrant women experienced higher levels of physical and sexual abuse than married non-immigrant women. Whether documented or undocumented, these women can feel trapped in abusive relationships, owing to language barriers, a lack of awareness about available legal protections, and the absence of financial resources. Compounded challenges often leave immigrant women feeling that protections of the United States’ legal system are out of their reach.

Domestic violence is also a major problem for immigrant children and their classmates. Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavioral problems such as bullying at school. In addition, researchers link important metrics including test scores, discipline infractions, and college graduation rates with court records on whether a parent has filed a restraining order. When classrooms have multiple children from troubled homes, cumulative tests scores drop and wages drop with each additional disruptive child.

Exacerbating these fears are inflammatory statements made by the president-elect, who has promised to deport up to 3 million criminal immigrants. His words — coupled with an increasing number of reports of harassment and intimidation against immigrants — is adding additional stress to already marginalized individuals. This same president-elect has himself been accused by multiple women of sexual assault. The terror is real, as immigrant women are forced to grapple with preexisting intersections of gender, immigration, and domestic violence in an even more hostile political reality.

Fortunately, a lot of work has been done to protect immigrant victims of domestic abuse. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) creates and supports comprehensive, effective, and cost saving responses to the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds both crime victim’ compensation funds and victim’ assistance grants. VAWA, VOCA, and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), create and support comprehensive responses to the needs of all victims of domestic violence.

However, VAWA will need to be reauthorized in 2018 by a Republican-controlled Executive Branch, House and Senate, a party which has not always been in tune with the nuances involved in protecting immigrant women. As an example, although VAWA was previously reauthorized with bipartisan support, in 2007, domestic violence activists had to rally in opposition to Republican-backed ‘tough on immigration’ amendments that posed a threat to VAWA-acquired protections. Continued pressure will be essential in ensuring that legislators reauthorize VAWA and continue to fund VOCA at current levels.

In addition to applying pressure on our legislators, on #GivingTuesday we must support organizations working in the trenches to provide essential, life-saving services to victims. One organization I’ll be supporting is Between Friends, a nonprofit agency dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence in Chicago. The organization’s comprehensive services include a toll-free Crisis Line (800–603-HELP), counseling for victims and their children, court advocacy, and prevention and education efforts, including healthcare education and an extensive teen dating violence prevention program.

On this #GivingTuesday and beyond, we must continue to take concrete steps to ensure that these women — immigrant women like me — are protected. Let’s continue to contribute to organizations like Between Friends to help create awareness, long-term safety, and security for survivors. Let’s call our legislators to ensure that VAWA is reauthorized and that VOCA funding caps continue to cover much-needed services. Let’s hold our president-elect accountable.