HomeNews BriefingsImmigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence Face Rising Barriers to Safety and Justice

Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence Face Rising Barriers to Safety and Justice

Was Live Friday, September 12, 2025 | 11am PST

Guest Speakers

Event Overview

Immigrant survivors of domestic violence are encountering new obstacles to safety as critical legal and funding protections erode. Survivors applying for U visas — given to victims of violent crime — or VAWA visas — which allow survivors to petition for immigration status separate from an abusive partner — face greater scrutiny and stricter application procedures. Asylum protections for gender-based violence survivors have also been gutted.

New anti-DEIA restrictions have been enforced for DV organizations who receive grant funding from federal agencies, including the Office of Violence Against Women, and Housing and Urban Development. The looming specter of ICE raids has created an overwhelming climate of fear in immigrant communities: many survivors of domestic violence are not reporting their abuse.

Speakers this week will discuss the challenges faced by immigrant DV survivors and possible avenues for support.

Presented by ACoM

Cover Image Credit: Canva Photos

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