UFW on VAWA

The UFW Foundation Urges Immediate Action Against House Proposed Changes to Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Los Angeles, CA - May 15, 2012 - The UFW Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, strongly condemns the attempts by many in the House of Representatives to strip confidentiality from immigrant victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in the U Visa adjudication process. As currently worded, H.R. 4970 would allow immigration officers to obtain testimony from abusers in reported cases of domestic violence if their victim is an immigrant. This endangers victims by effectively notifying abusers of the victim's intent to escape the violence by cooperating with law enforcement. The UFW Foundation regards the politicizing of protections for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking as extremely dangerous, and believes the passage of H.R. 4970 would result in a significant increase in injuries and deaths among immigrant victims of domestic violence.

Currently, victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and certain other serious crimes that cooperate with law enforcement are eligible to apply for a non-immigrant "U Visa." The House proposal would fundamentally change the current U Visa by blocking all applicants from adjusting their status to that of permanent resident, and by allowing abusers to provide input into whether victims should be eligible for immigration relief.

Any attempt to provide abusers with additional tools with which to coerce, threaten, or manipulate their victims should be rejected by the community. Furthermore, the UFW Foundation views the proposed bill as part of a larger and continued effort to generate mistrust between immigrants and law enforcement.

The proposed bill is scheduled to go to the floor for a vote Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

Please call the following House leaders and urge them to oppose this action:

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
DC phone: 202-225-6205

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA)
DC Phone: 202-225-2815

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
DC Phone: 202-225-2915