Running head: AS AN IMMIGRANT BATTERED WOMAN YOU SHOULD BE AWARE

THAT 1

Opinion Piece Assignment

As An Immigrant Battered Woman You Should Be Aware That
Stephanie Ibaven
University of Texas at El Paso

As An Immigrant Battered Woman You Should Be Aware That

As An Immigrant Battered Woman You Should Be Aware That

An editorial by Stephanie Ibaven
Since the moment women decide to immigrate to a new country they are marked with an
immigration status. This immigration status has them terrified that they will be sent back to their
home country if anyone finds out of their illegal situation. They would do anything to remain in
this country, because of the fear they have, they are the perfect victims for abuse. Around 41% of
Latinas would not go to the police because of their fear of deportation. Their abusive partners
have the perfect weapon to have them in the palm of their hands. They control them with the fear
of calling immigration. The fear overwhelms many immigrant battered women who prefer to
stay silent because they need to stay in this country since many of them work and send all their
earnings to their families in their home country. This is why more information needs to be spread
about ways they can escape their situation. Although some information exist to prevent abuse
from happening to these women, it is not spread enough.
More campaigns should be created to ensure every woman knows about the existence of
programs that were created to
ensure their wellbeing. In El Paso
only the Dont Let Yourself
campaign was created to bring
awareness to these women, but
unfortunately this website has
been outdated since 2011. This is
problematic because women
This banner was created by the Dont Let Yourself
campaign in El Paso, TX to bring awareness to victims of
domestic violence.
seeking for current information may not be able to find it.
By creating a campaign that leaves brochures where normally women would go alone would be
ideal. When their partners are not around they are more likely to speak to someone about their
problems. If campaigns had speakers that go to places where these women would normal go to
alone, for example to buy groceries or church, could help bring awareness to a higher population.
57% of Latinas tell their friends if they are suffering from domestic violence, if their friends had
the knowledge to tell them about the U-Visa and the Violence Against Women Act they would be
able to help their friends escape their situation. Not many women are aware that there is help
available for them, and finding a brochure that has the information they need is a way for them to
feel safer in their situation. By letting them know that their abuser does not have to be aware of
them applying for the U-Visa or the VAWA would be a big motivation for them to go to the
police. Police officers do not arrest immigrants when they call to report domestic violence, but
this is rarely talked about. Instead, rumors have been created that advise immigrants not to call
the police because they may end up in the hands of immigration services. If women knew this is
not true they would be more likely to report what is happening to them.

As An Immigrant Battered Woman You Should Be Aware That

By knowing this small amount of information many women could be saved from the hands of a
tyrant that only thinks in their own benefit. By showing women they have options to escape from
their abuser it can prevent them from suffering through domestic violence. Many women end up
getting killed because they preferred to stay with their abuser, but if anyone had told them that
help is out there they could have been alive today.

As An Immigrant Battered Woman You Should Be Aware That

References
Dont Let Yourself (2011). Retrieved from http://www.dontletyourself.org/
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center (2015). Retrieved from http://las-americas.org/
The No Mas Study. (2015). Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the Latin@ Community.
Retrieved from http://nomore.org/nomas/
U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (2015, June 18) Battered Spouse, Children and
Parents. Retrieved from http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/battered-spouse-childrenparents
U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (2015, June 18) Victims of Criminal Activity: U
Nonimmigrant Status. Retrieved from http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/victimshuman-trafficking-other-crimes/victims-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status/victimscriminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status