Immigrants have additional barriers to overcome when combating domestic violence. Barriers include, but are not limited to language, economic status, immigration/citizenship status, fear, misinformation, and custody. Often times the abuser will use immigrant status against the victim by asserting the constant threat of deportation. Abusers often use immigration-related threats to assert power and control over their spouse or intimate partner. Often times immigrants have misinformation about immigration, domestic violence, civil rights, and human rights laws.
The following information about domestic violence in immigrant communities was compiled by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.
Emotional Abuse
Economic Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Using Coercion or Threats
Using Children
Intimidation
Isolation
Fear
Abusers often threaten to kill or seriously injure victims,
their families, friends, or pets if their partners ever
leave them. With good reason, these threats are taken
seriously. Victims may also fear the potential consequences
of intervention. They may be afraid of appearing in court,
leaving their home, or being deported.
Language
An inability or limited ability to speak English creates
a huge barrier for victims seeking to leave a violent
relationship. Lack of ability to communicate makes the
victim feel isolated and alone.
Immigration Status and Fear of Deportation
In 2000, a study of battered Latina Immigrants in the
Washington D.C. metropolitan area found that 21.7% stated
that their primary reason for staying in the abusive relationship
was their fear of being reported to immigration authorities
(Duttin, Orloff & Aguilar 2000). Often victims stay
in an abusive relationships because their abuser is a
U.S. citizen and/or their sponsor for citizenship. They
may also be here illegally and fear that any interaction
with any part of the government will result in their being
deported. Additionally, victims often fear that their
batterer will be deported. If the batterer is the primary
or only source of household income, his or her deportation
could mean economic ruin for the victim.
Misinformation
Depending upon their experiences in their country of origin,
immigrants often have a distrust of the legal system and
law enforcement. They may not know that everyone, regardless
of his or her immigration status, is eligible for a protection
order. Any number of myths about immigration and the law
may be floating around about their community. Additionally,
the victim may not know that her abuser can be ordered
to pay child support or about other services that are
available.
Fear of losing custody
If the victim has immigration issues and the other parent
is a U.S. citizen, the victim may fear losing custody.
The judge may look at the victim as a flight risk or simply
see the citizen parent as more stable. A lack of knowledge
about the U.S. legal system may also perpetuate this fear.
In many countries, children are looked at as property
of the father. Consequently, in divorce cases, the father
is automatically granted custody. A female victim may
not know that our legal system does not operate this way.
Additionally, she may not know that she is eligible to
file for a divorce, as this is often a privilege reserved
for men in other countries.
Fear of being ostracized
Some communities may put pressure on a victim to remain
in a marriage or relationship. If she does leave, she
may be held responsible for the end of the relationship
because her community may think that holding a marriage
together is a woman's job. In some cultures, divorce is
such a stigma that a woman may never be able to remarry.
Additionally, seeking a divorce may bring disgrace upon
her entire family.
Financial Insecurity
Some victims may have no formal education. Others may
be highly educated but not speak enough English to practice
their specialty. Others may simply be unable to find a
job. There are also many immigrants who do not have green
cards or work permits and are therefore unable to work
at traditional jobs. Additionally, many resources that
advocates typically refer victims to (food stamps, section
8 housing, etc.) may not be available to the victim.
Self Blame
Victims sometimes feel they deserve the abuse. They may
think "If only I were a better partner, my spouse
wouldn't treat me so badly." They may have internalized
messages such as "it is your fault I have to hit
you" or "if you could get supper on the table
on time I would not have to slap you."
Denial
Many victims do not identify themselves as abused. Some
may see the relationship as normal. For them "it
has always been this way" or "this is how he/she
is." In addition, victims may believe that, because
they are not experiencing physical abuse, they are not
being abused. Or they make excuses for the abuser like,
"He/she is just stressed because it is harder to
provide for a family here than it was back home."
Or "He/she is working two jobs and trying to learn
English in between. Things just escalate sometimes."
Family and Friends
The victim's loved ones may encourage him or her to stay
in the relationship. If the victim is female, her relatives
and friends may emphasize the idea of family harmony and
sacrifice, reinforcing the idea that it is the woman's
job to keep her family together. Furthermore, the family
may be concerned that the breakup of the relationship
will reflect badly upon the family name or family honor.
Isolation
When a victim is isolated, he or she has fewer chances
to form a support network or meet with people who might
provide assistance. Sometimes the isolation is geographic
isolation based on the area where the victim lives. Other
times, the isolation occurs because the victim does not
speak English well.
Childcare
Often, many generations of family may be living together
or in close proximity. Trading off childcare responsibilities
allows each adult the opportunity without worrying about
childcare. Victims that leave the relationship will not
only be losing their own childcare, but will be depriving
relatives of childcare as well.
Inaccessible system
A lack of interpreters or bilingual staff in many agencies
(police, courts, etc.) is yet another barrier for a victim.
Even if the victim speaks English relatively well, domestic
violence is an emotional topic, and the victim may want
to use her native language to discuss it. Additionally,
the location of the program may be a problem if it is
not accessible via multiple means of transportation (car,
bus, train, etc.).
Faith
The victim may be an active member of a faith community
and fear they will ostracize him or her. Abusers may twist
the words of religious texts to try to convince victims
that they are treating them in accordance with religious
principles. Abusers may convince victims that God will
never forgive them if they leave.
Discrimination
If the victim is Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered he
or she may be afraid of receiving an inappropriate response
from law enforcement or social service agencies. Additionally,
the victim may not know that there is protection available,
regardless of sexual orientation. A victim with a disability
or an elderly victim may share similar fears.
United States Department of Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/nationalorigin/bifsltr.html
Women's Law Center of Maryland - Multi-Ethnic Domestic
Violence Project (MEDOVI)
http://www.wlcmd.org/domesticviolence.html
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/battered.htm
Elder abuse is a crime and it is under reported and difficult to detect. There has been an increase in detection of crimes against the elderly due to the Gray Crimes Project. "Gray Crimes refers to an-array of crimes against the elderly that are not recognized as crimes, or when recognized, not appropriately investigated or prosecuted. These crimes, ranging from murder to fraud, occur in settings including private homes and long-term care facilities. It need not be this way" (www.graycrimes.com).
Some elders face additional challenges when combating abuse. They may be partially or totally dependent on the abuser. Obstacles include receiving daily care, meals, mobility, access to funds and medication. Many victims experience shame, fear, embarrassment, anxiety, confusion, depression, or withdrawn.
Physical: Striking, beating, slapping, or kicking
Emotional: Verbal insults, threats, intimidation;
Non-verbal - isolation, "silent treatment"
Financial: Change in banking routine, change in
will
Neglect: Dehydration, malnutrition, unsafe living
conditions, poor personal hygiene, failure to provide
medication
Self-Neglect: Failure to provide themselves with
food, water, clothing, or medication
There are a various ways the abuser exerts power and control over the victim. The abuser may inappropriately use drugs or physical restraints to punish the older person; treat the older person like a child; isolate the victim from family, friends, or regular activities; fail to provide life's necessities, such as meals, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication, comfort, and personal safety; desert the elderly; illegally or improperly use the elder's funds, property, and assets; withhold attention and affection; deny access to grandchildren in order to get the older person to comply with the abuser's wishes.
National Center on Elder Abuse:
www.elderabusecenter.org
National Committee for the Prevention on Elder Abuse:
www.preventelderabuse.org
Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly:
http://db.rdms.udel.edu:8080/CANE
Baltimore's Commission in Aging:
www.baltimorecity.gov/government/care
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered domestic violence is serious, and it is extremely under-reported. The GLBT community has to deal with additional barriers when overcoming domestic violence. Members of the GLBT have to deal with issues regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In addition, services are limited to GLBT victims of abuse, especially gay men or trangendered people.
Using Isolation
Using Emotional Abuse
Using Children
Using Intimidation, Coercion, and Threats
Minimizing, Denying, and Blaming
Physical Abuse
Using Social Status and Privilege
Using Economic Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Survivor Project: For Trans & Intersex Victims of Domestic Violence: http://www.survivorproject.org/
Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project:
http://www.gmdvp.org/
Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project:
http://lambda.org/avp_gen.htm
Victims with disabilities experience similar forms of abuse as other victims. However, victims with disabilities are more likely to experience violence and for more extended periods of time. Since the abuser is often the caregiver, the woman is denied information and access to help services. Leaving the abuser tends to be more difficult for victims with disabilities.
Mayor's Commission on Disabilities:
http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/disabilities.html