iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Four U.S. Representatives introduced the Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (WISE) Act to protect immigrant survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. The bill would ensure that immigrants have access to protections intended by the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA), and other federal and state laws. The bill will also ensure survivors pursuing relief are not detained or deported before their applications are fully adjudicated.
“Survivors of crime must be able to come forward without fear of deportation, it’s that simple,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who along with US Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Adriano Espaillat, and Jimmy Panetta introduced the bill.
“Immigrant women are significantly more likely to suffer domestic violence, nearly three times the national average. It is critical that we take steps to ensure that survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and gender-based violence are protected,” Jayapal added.
Immigrant women and children are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence, and the rate of abuse against immigrant women is nearly 49 percent, three times the national average. While domestic violence is a consistently underreported issue, immigrant survivors are significantly less likely to report these crimes due to fear of deportation.
“Immigrant women are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence. We must ensure these women do not feel forced to stay in violent, life-threatening intimate partner relationships because of their tenuous immigration status,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud to co-lead the WISE Act to help ensure that all victims of domestic violence, regardless of immigration status, have access to the public resources and support they need to escape abuse.”
“Keeping communities safe is always my top priority, and the WISE Act will help in our efforts to improve safety by protecting victims regardless of their immigration status,” said Congressman Espaillat. “We know that immigrants are more likely to not report crimes against them because they fear detention and deportation, and we know this fear makes them more susceptible and at risk of abuse. We are introducing the WISE Act to ensure protections for immigrants who are victims of crimes and to ensure that these victims are able to receive justice, no matter what.”
“Victims and witnesses who step out of the shadows and step forward to play a role in our justice system should not be at risk of being detained or deported while they wait for the processing of their visas,” said Rep. Panetta. “My Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, which is included in the WISE Act, would expand protections and increase the number of U and T Visas available for immigrant witnesses and victims. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to pass this legislation that would provide more legal protections to those who cooperate with law enforcement and promote trust in our system of justice.”
The WISE Act would strengthen protections for immigrant survivors by:
- Eliminating arbitrary caps on the U Visa and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).
- Expanding qualifying crimes for the U Visa to include hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse as well as grant protections for abused children, stepchildren, spouses, and parents of immigrant survivors.
- Granting work authorization to survivors while their applications are pending.
- Prohibiting detention and deportation of immigrant survivors while their cases are pending.
- Limiting the use or disclosure of information pertaining to a pending immigrant survivor’s VAWA, T, U, or SIJ applications.
- Restricting immigration enforcement at certain protected areas including any domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, supervised visitation center, family justice center, or victim services providers, among other locations.
- Ensuring survivors have the support necessary to thrive and reduce reliance on abusers by providing access to certain assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and Medicaid.
