From Victim to Victor: Your Path to Legalization After Experiencing Crime in the U.S.

From Victim to Victor: Your Path to Legalization After Experiencing Crime in the U.S.

For many immigrants living in the United States—especially those who are undocumented or out of legal status—life is already filled with uncertainty. But when they become victims of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, that uncertainty turns into fear, trauma, and vulnerability. Often, victims stay silent out of fear of deportation […]

Know Your Rights: What to Do If ICE Stops You—Whether You’re a Citizen, Green Card Holder, or Undocumented

Know Your Rights: What to Do If ICE Stops You—Whether You’re a Citizen, Green Card Holder, or Undocumented

Editorial credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.com Encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can be terrifying—not just for undocumented immigrants, but for U.S. citizens and green card holders as well. The sight of ICE agents, the pressure of questioning, and the confusion about what you’re legally required to do can cause fear, panic, and even […]

Dividing Lives, Defending Rights: Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in New York When One Spouse Is Undocumented

Dividing Lives, Defending Rights: Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in New York When One Spouse Is Undocumented

Divorce is always challenging—but when immigration status is part of the equation, it becomes significantly more complicated. For couples in New York State, understanding the legal distinction between contested and uncontested divorces is the first step in navigating a separation. When one spouse is undocumented, the stakes are even higher, involving not just emotional and […]

Does an Annulment Prevent a Plaintiff or Defendant from Filing a VAWA Application for Immigration Relief?

Does an Annulment Prevent a Plaintiff or Defendant from Filing a VAWA Application for Immigration Relief?

By Brian Figeroux, Esq.  The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides a pathway for survivors of domestic abuse to apply for immigration relief without relying on their abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse, parent, or child. VAWA allows these individuals to self-petition for a green card if they can demonstrate they were […]

The Exploitation of Undocumented Women in the U.S. by Predatory Marriages: A Legal and Social Analysis

The Exploitation of Undocumented Women in the U.S. by Predatory Marriages: A Legal and Social Analysis

By Esther Claudette Gittens Undocumented women in the United States face unique vulnerabilities that often expose them to exploitation. Among these risks is a pattern of abuse in which sex predators exploit their undocumented status by entering into manipulative marriages, not for love but as a means of control. These predators exploit the woman’s dependence […]

Domestic Violence Takes Many Forms

Domestic Violence Takes Many Forms

By Erin Telesford Domestic Violence (DV) is one of the most underreported crimes that take place in New York, yet it has some of the most extensive impacts on victims and those exposed to DV. Nationally, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience physical violence by their intimate partner at some […]

Hope for Immigrants: Reviving The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Hope for Immigrants: Reviving The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

By Linda Nwoke, Special to CAW Several misconceptions exist on the issue of violence against women. However, key facts about violence against women are that it can be physical, psychological, or sexual and takes place in private and public spaces like the victims’ homes, the streets, or during the war. Secondly, violence against women and […]

Immigrants and Domestic Violence

Immigrants and Domestic Violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and immigrants are particularly vulnerable because many may not speak English, are often separated from family and friends, and may not understand the laws of the United States. For these reasons, immigrants are often afraid to report acts of domestic violence to the police or to seek other forms […]