WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) today introduced the Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (WISE) Act to protect immigrant survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. The bill would ensure that immigrants have access to protections intended by the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA), and other federal and state laws. The bill would also ensure survivors pursuing relief are not detained or deported before their applications are fully adjudicated.
“Survivors of crime must be able to come forward without fear of deportation, it’s that simple,” said Jayapal.“Immigrant women are significantly more likely to suffer domestic violence, nearly three times the national average. It is critical that we take steps to ensure that survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and gender-based violence are protected.”
“Immigrant women are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence. We must ensure these women do not feel forced to stay in violent, life-threatening intimate partner relationships because of their tenuous immigration status,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud to co-lead the WISE Act to help ensure that all victims of domestic violence, regardless of immigration status, have access to the public resources and support they need to escape abuse.”
“Keeping...
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