May 23, 2012

On May 14, 2012, MPAC, in solidarity with 30 other faith-based organizations, signed a letter supporting the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a historic anti-domestic violence signed into law in 1994. The Act has been credited with empowering battered spouses and law enforcement to better identity, prevent and prosecute acts of domestic violence in U.S. households.

Part of VAWA’s protections is the creation of a U-visa, which provides an incentive for undocumented women, who might otherwise stay silent out of fear of being deported, to report their abuses. 

Unfortunately in recent weeks, many of those provisions were in jeopardy, including incentives that would make it easier for undocumented women to cooperate with law enforcement and report abuse at hands of partners or even employers. A House bill would change the U-visa to prevent undocumented women from being able to apply for permanent residence.

MPAC and other faith-based organizations have been troubled by this development, which would create an enormous disincentive for battered, abused and exploited undocumented women from reporting their abuses. The coalition of faith-based organizations is calling for the complete preservation of all protections and incentives afforded by U-visa.

Thankfully some of the proposed amendments to the U-visa that harm undocumented women have been removed. However MPAC will continue to closely monitor this legislation and fight for the full-protections under current law.