Dear Friends,
Our communities have made tremendous strides in making sure that survivors' voices are heard and helping them navigate trauma and seek safety. Now, as always, we must reiterate how important it is to make sure that immigrant survivors are included in our advocacy. Immigrant survivors -- who may feel trapped between abusive spouses and challenges created by immigration policies, lack of familiarity with dominant cultures, and language barriers -- face additional layers of vulnerability that can in turn be exploited by their abusers.
This month, the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS), co-chaired by API-GBV, ASISTA Immigration Assistance, Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network, and Tahirih Justice Center, launched its website,
immigrantsurvivors.org. The website is a space where you can access information an updates on policy proposals impacting immigrant survivors of violence, resources to support your advocacy for survivors, and opportunities to take action. We hope that you will take some time to browse the site and keep informed of updates by signing up for the
AIS email list!
Submit your comment opposing the harmful public charge proposal.
You’ve likely heard by now about the Administration’s new
public charge proposal
that would put immigrant survivors of violence and their families, including children, at risk if they use crucial public programs such as healthcare and food and housing assistance to escape from abuse and rebuild their lives.
The good news? This is still a proposal and not yet in place
. You have until December 10 to submit a comment on the proposed public charge rule to highlight the negative impact it would have on survivors and our communities.
Webinar: What’s Next for VAWA Reauthorization and the Immigration Provisions in VAWA?
Monday, December 3, 2018 | 10:00 – 11:30 am PT
This webinar will introduce the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) and provide an overview of AIS’ work, mission, and resources for advocates and allies to engage in policy initiatives that ensure immigrant survivors of gender-based violence have access to life-saving protections and services.
The webinar will be led by the Co-Chairs of AIS who coordinate the Immigration Subcommittee of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF). The presenters will discuss the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and cover the following topics:
- History and background of VAWA and the reauthorization process
- Critical immigration provisions and protections included in VAWA
- Implications of recent administrative and legislative policies and their impact on VAWA protections
- Status, next steps, and efforts by the NTF to reauthorize VAWA
- Opportunities for advocacy surrounding VAWA reauthorization
If you are an advocate working with survivors, particularly immigrant survivors, or are involved or interested in learning more about legislative efforts to support survivors, we encourage you to join the webinar!
