Undocumented Survivors
Authors: Dong-Anh Ngo and Antonia Gonzalez
In episode 18 of the Narrative Project, Dong-Anh Ngo and Katherine Contreas, interns at UCI CARE, discuss the topic of Undocumented Survivors.
They tackle the first question which revolves around who undocumented survivors are, and how do we identify these folks. According to UC Santa Barbara’s CARE website, undocumented survivors are identified as “a survivor who is also navigating their undocumented status.” Both Dong-Anh and Katherine discuss how though they know undocumented folks, they don’t personally know if these folks are survivors. They delve into their concerns for these folks, since being of undocumented status is a risk to being an undocumented survivor. They also note how this community is particularly at risk to power-based personal violence due to the fear of their undocumented status being revealed, and how abusers use their status as a way to control and harm.
This topic shifted to how politics play such a big factor, and the stigma and polarized feelings against undocumented survivors. Due to this, there is fear and hopelessness that stems from the feeling of being chastised and not supported in this new environment. Additionally, the fear of having their undocumented status being the forefront subject if they were to come forward as a survivor.
Another big factor is how culture can affect undocumented survivors. Both Katherine and Dong-Anh share how speaking of power-based personal violence, being a survivor, or the general subject of abuse and assault is a topic that their ethnic cultures shun. The taboo surrounding assault and being a survivor is so stigmatized that it becomes a norm, even after moving into a new environment. Katherine discusses her own experiences with Machismo culture, and how victim blaming is so prominent when someone does come forward. Furthermore, they both discussed how this can deeply affect undocumented survivors as they internalize the abuse, and they feel unsupported both by the new systems in place, as well as their own families.
What are the risks of being an undocumented survivors?
Dong-Anh and Katherine discuss how many abusers use a survivor’s undocumented status as a tool or weapon to control and abuse the survivors. For example, WomensLaw illustrates how abusers use immigration status as a tool of control, threatening to call on Customs or Immigration if the survivor attempts to report their abuse. Dong-Anh mentioned the intersecting and overlapping identities, and how this can affect the risk of being an undocumented survivor. As stated by UC Santa Barbara’s CARE, “the stigma, fear, and uncertainty that accompany being undocumented, or having loved one’s who are undocumented, often serve as silencing factors that can put survivors at further risk of violence.”
Support systems? Are they working?
Katherine ignites discourse about how the legal system here in America is not adequate in supporting survivors of marginalized communities. She stated how seeking support can be particularly difficult for this community because there is fear and wariness towards the system. This delves into how the system and support systems that are in place consist of many issues such as: underfunding, systemic issues rooted in hate, and lack of cultural competency. Dong-Anh explains how she personally views that the support and legal system was created and functioned to serve the WEIRD populations (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Demographic societies). They both agree that it’s difficult to find support services that serve this community wholeheartedly.
Katherine also mentioned that she learned in her Criminology class how undocumented folks are more likely to have violence and crime happen to them. She explains there is a wariness and distrust towards the authority and system.
What are some of the “unique” types of abuse immigrant survivors may face?
According to WomensLaw.org, there is a various list of unique types of abuse that immigrant survivors would face, some of which that they discussed are:
- Refusing to let the victim speak with friends or family from his/her home country.
- Getting the victim fired from his/her job by telling an employer that the victim is undocumented.
- Threatening to have the victim deported while the abuser remains in the United States with their children.
- Lying to the victim and telling him/her that s/he will be deported or lose his/her residency or citizenship or if s/he reports the abuse to the police
Katherine ends on a significant point that “Not all abuse is obvious…” These forms of abuse and tactics are used to silence the survivor.
In part 2 of the Narrative Project, Dong-Anh and Katherine continues the conversation by discussing why in unique circumstances, what are examples of why undocumented survivors are hesitant to come forward for help, whether that be reporting or seeking support.
Dong-Anh mentioned the media representation of the reality show, 90-day Fiance, where the storyline of someone using an American citizen for a green card could villianize undocumented and immigrant populations. They briefly touched on the lack of realistic representation of undocumented survivors in the media.
They also noted Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) which an abused immigrant can self-petition for legal permanent residence or can get a battered spouse waiver to remove the abusive spouse from the process of changing a conditional green card to a ten-year green card. Katherine also noted how despite available resources, there are still barriers for a survivor to utilize these resources, such as internal obstacles, cultural impacts, and the fear of the system, especially as an undocumented survivors. This comes back to intersectionality theory, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, and how this affects how trauma might look different for folks who hold different identities.
Additionally, the lack of awareness of support resources and access to this knowledge is also crucial when it comes to why undocumented survivors don’t come forward. Katherine and Dong-Anh touched on the language barriers, cultural barriers, etc., and bridging the gap of communication. They also re-assert the need to have more catering towards providing translation services for ethnic minority groups.
What are the resources that help undocumented survivors, whether this is legal or support services?
You will also find special resources and documents for those who fear deportation on ASISTA’s website. An immigrant survivor of violence can also contact his/her local Advocates and Shelters to see what other options might be available!
Additional Hotlines:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1–800–799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1–800–787–3224
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-HOPE.
UCI On-Campus Resources:
Wrapping up the conversation, they discuss how can we support undocumented survivors. Dong-Anh stated how on a personal and individual level, we can bridge the gap of communication by being aware of the inequity, and acting upon it by being involved with compassion, as well as disseminating information via social media to other folks who need it. Katherine also brought up the necessity to cultivate a safe space for folks to feel heard and supported.
Not mentioned in the podcast is how staggering and prevalent systemic sexual abuse from Immigrations and Customs Enforcements (ICE) is against immigrant and undocumented survivors. For more information on this matter, please read Violence Against Women and Girls in ICE Custody.
For more resources for undocumented and immigrant survivors, please visit Resources for Immigrant Survivors and their Advocates.
