Domestic Abuse among Immigrant Women

Earlier this past week, I had the unique opportunity to attend a workshop led by Leslye Orloff, the Director of the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project at American University Washington College of Law. The focus of the presentation was educating the audience on ways to help immigrant survivors of domestic violence. The workshop was very detailed and included a lot of relevant examples, and by the end of the day, my head was bursting with information that I just could not wait to share with everyone I know cares about this issue. 

The focus of this post is the Myths and Realities about the instances of domestic violence among immigrant women. After perusing them, I quickly realized that most of these apply to any case of domestic violence. 

Myth # 1

Domestic violence is a private family business.

Reality

Domestic violence is a crime and everyone who experiences it deserves the protection, help, and services afforded to victims of other crimes.

Myth #2

Women are responsible for the abuse they suffer because they provoke it.

Reality

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors that abusers use to impose their will and control their victims. The abused are not responsible for the abuser’s behavior and do not deserve such treatment by anyone, family member or not.

Myth #3

Domestic violence is a consequence of alcohol and drug abuse.

Reality

Many abusers don’t abuse alcohol and drugs and many people who abuse alcohol and drugs are not domestic abusers. Rather, domestic abusers often use drugs and alcohol as an excuse for their violent behavior and refuse to take responsibility for their actions.

Myth #4

If the immigrant woman leaves her abuser, she will lose custody of her children because she does not possess proper documentation.

Reality

In general, the judge is interested in protecting the rights of the children and looking after their best interest. The court will consider any evidence of abuse in the outcome of custody cases.

Myth #5

With no immigration papers, there is no right to receive social or legal services.

Reality

All immigrant victims of domestic violence, regardless of their immigration status, have the right to emergency services.

Myth #6

If the victim of domestic abuse calls the police, she will face deportation because she is undocumented.

Reality

The police have the obligation to protect victims of abuse regardless of their immigration status. Without calling the police, they will not be able to intervene and assist.

*The above information has been obtained from a pamphlet created by Sonia Parras Konrad, Esq. and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

 - Krasi

The European Union, Immigrants, and Human Rights

With the establishment of the EU, the hopes for the beginning of a United Europe came to fruition. It seemed that the statement uttered by Churchill in1946 regarding the need to build “United States of Europe” was no longer an expression of an unattainable goal. In 1993, the single market and the four freedoms to unobstructed movement of goods, services, people, and money became a reality. Further, with the Schengen Agreement of 1995, borders between a few nations were abolished and people of any nationality could travel freely, with no passport controls, within those states. Further, a common monetary unit, the euro, was introduced in 1999. The introduction of the euro was expected to help Europe become strong enough to counteract the impact of globalization and to increase its competitiveness; it was the final step toward an idealistic vision of a warless Europe and economic interdependence. Europe seemed to be on the way to a bright future. According to EUROPA, the official EU website, the abolition of border controls has allowed people to travel freely within the EU and made it easier for them to live and work in any EU nation. The reforms have further allowed for the creation of millions of jobs, price reductions, and increasing consumer choice. Economic stability appeared to prevail.

Another theme accompanying the establishment and enlargement of the EU is the search for the so-called European identity. A shared cluster of characteristics, distinct to Europeans, is expected to smooth and ease the ultimate integration of all European countries into a community living harmoniously. It is not clear, however, whether the European identity already exists and the path toward integration is meant to solidify that identity or if the integration itself is supposed to create and reinforce the so-called European identity. The ultimate hope is that an emphasis on a common identity, along with economic interdependence, would reinforce the unification of European states and turn Europe into a powerful actor on the global stage. 

While the West was interested in and focused on the attempt to develop a common European market and establish a common European identity, another major event that would eventually have a serious impact on the above two was happening to the East. After forty-five years of communist rule, the USSR disintegrated and the ideological victory of democracy and the free market was celebrated all over Europe and the world. Some believed that with communist regimes in the past, the goal of a United Europe was even more realistic and East and West were finally going to join together as Europeans became “closer neighbours”. Once the euphoria of democracy’s ideological victory subsided and the Western world took a comprehensive look at life behind the Iron Curtain, the severe difference in living standards became apparent and worries about the possibility of true integration appeared.

Millions of people, both men and women, lost their jobs as an outcome of privatization and found themselves lacking the necessary skills to compete in the newly established capitalist market. Successful factories and agricultural cooperatives were closed overnight and only the remains of the destroyed and pillaged buildings are left to remind those who have not yet left that there was a time when there was work to be done and there were jobs to be had. Those people started to look West for better opportunities and the possibility to earn for one’s family, and unemployment and displacement increased their vulnerability to exploitation. While corruption prevails and EU aid disappears down mysterious alleyways and bank accounts, those who suffer the consequences are the common people who really do not care who is in control as long as they have a decent life and are able to provide for their families without having to leave the country and be underpaid, and hated and abused for being there and allowing themselves to be underpaid. So while an entry into the EU is viewed as the way out of economic depression and into prosperity and development, one cannot help but be haunted by the questions asked by Eduardo Galeano, “How many people prosper in prosperity?/How many people find their lives developed by development?”

After a rocky and murderous first half of the twentieth century, it is no surprise European nations on both the winning and losing end of the battle came together to find a possible solution for avoiding major conflicts in the future. The ideas of economic integration and a common identity certainly make sense on the surface level and present a logical solution to a destructive past. However, those ideas can only work if all the members of the proposed union function at the same level, are equally respected, and see each other as one, but very diverse, body. The fall of the USSR and the followed accession of former communist nations, the terrorist assaults on major Western cities, and regional war conflicts in the proximity of the EU have only heightened the disparities in economic, social, and cultural spheres and placed immigrants on the receiving end of prejudiced and discriminatory practices. The disparities and ever-increasing anti-immigrant sentiments have precipitated violations of human rights in the name of security and economic stability and have contributed to the growth of organized crime, specifically the traffic of humans. Instead of acknowledging a history of accomplishments made by migrants and minorities who have shaped Europe into what it is today, the major Western actors have chosen to play on xenophobic fears and allow intolerance and hate to become widespread. A compromise will have to be made as homogeneity within the union cannot, and must not, be the final goal. What defines a nation is not only how it expresses itself, but also how it differs from other nations. A true European integration will allow for the social and cultural differences to be respected while the common goal of equal treatment for all members, along with access to economic development, is reached.  For this to take place, the EU must reconsider policies that push struggling nations further into the abyss of poverty and desperation. It must not only advocate on paper, but also in practice, the equal application of human rights to all and encourage acceptance of diversity instead of forcing assimilation and similarity. Just because authoritarian and communist regimes are no longer in power and civil and political freedoms have purportedly been achieved, this fact does not imply that the citizens of these nations could no longer be oppressed. As far as Eastern European countries and their entrance into the EU are concerned, one repressive and discriminatory regime has simply been replaced by another. Without consideration for the different sociological, economical, and cultural heritage that migrants across the EU carry, Europe faces the danger of going back to where it started and any strides to unite the region that have so far been made would turn out to have been in vain. 

 - Krasi

This land is not quite your land

We are back from Austin and can safely state that we thoroughly enjoyed the conference and learned a lot of interesting and important information to share with you. 

One of the keynote speakers at the Amnesty International Texas State meeting was Mr. Luis Figueroa (Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund; MALDEF), who presented on the much discussed and contentious issue of immigration. Some pieces of interesting and important information he provided included: 1) 2/3 of immigrants are in the US legally; 2) almost half of all undocumented immigrants enter the US legally (and overstay their visas or are in transition); 3) many immigrants pay income taxes even though they do not benefit from most federal and state local assistance programs; and 4) all immigrants pay state and property taxes. 

Mr. Figueroa analyzed the new Immigration Law in Arizona and emphasized the need for a comprehensive immigration reform that will create a pathway for immigrants to legally obtain work visas instead of being treated as criminals. He stressed America’s reliance on immigrant labor, specifically in the areas of agriculture, construction, and service industry. As he explained it, many citizens will not voluntarily work in those fields. The labor is much needed but since the available legal means to obtain a job in these fields are limited, immigrants enter the workforce illegally, many becoming victims to human traffickers and exploitation.

Mr. Figueroa also discussed the Dream Act and the fact that, unfortunately, it is still just a dream. He urged people to educate themselves and realize that the goal of the Dream Act is to help children of immigrants, children who arrived in the US at a very young age and stayed because their parents stayed. These individuals have, in most cases, limited connection to the country of origin, have adapted to life in the US and sometimes, have been forced (usually by parents) to forget the native language of their relatives. Those individuals, for all other purposes, consider themselves Americans.  And yet, even though they are now allowed the opportunity to obtain knowledge and skills through higher education, when it comes to utilizing this education and becoming productive members of society, all doors are closed. This increases the danger of these educated young adults to search for illegal means of supporting themselves. Should the money spent on educating them be wasted in such an illogical way?  

The United States we know was found and built by immigrants and sustained through the years by immigrant labor. I am not quite sure at what point in time immigration turned into a dirty word and immigrants into an affliction to be afraid of and avoid. 

Don’t get me wrong. I am not fond of lazy people searching for chances to take advantage, cheating the system, and trying to live off of others, hard-working, tax-paying individuals. With the same passion, however, I am not too fond of ignorant people and the side effect of misinformation and blind belief in what is presented on TV. For more information on the issue and to learn how to become involved in the fight for a comprehensive and working immigration reform, please visit the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund site. 

- Krasi