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The Program Representing Immigrant Survivors of Abuse
(PRISA)
- What
is the Program Representing Immigrant Survivors of Abuse?
- What
Services does PRISA provide?
- What
is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)?
- Benefits
of VAWA.
- Who
may be eligible to apply under VAWA?
- Did
you know...?
What
is the Program Representing Immigrant Survivors of Abuse?
PRISA
began in 1995 as an initiative of PAPA to provide immigration
legal services to battered immigrants and children. Additionally,
PRISA conducts outreach and education to social service providers,
members of the faith community and law enforcement officials.
PRISA educates these persons regarding the legal remedies
available to battered immigrants under the Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA), and their role and responsibility as advocates
for immigrant victims of domestic violence.
Most
importantly, PRISA provides battered immigrants with the tools
necessary to leave and abusive situation and become their
own advocates. Thanks to the commitment of the staff, pro
bono attorneys, volunteers and the funders of PRISA, immigrant
survivors of abuse are able to live safe and free of domestic
violence.
What
Services does PRISA provide?
- Free
legal counsel to immigrant victims of domestic violence,
trafficking victims and certain other crime victims.
- Free legal representation to indigent (up to 125% of Federal
Poverty Guidelines) battered immigrants who qualify for
relief under VAWA.
- Referrals to other social and legal service agencies.
- Outreach and education to battered immigrants, social service
providers, attorneys and law enforcement
- Through
the Voices of Immigrant Survivors of Abuse (VISA) coalition,
PAPA works with several local agencies assisting survivors
of domestic violence, such as: Legal Aid of Central Texas,
SafePlace, Texas Council on Family Violence, Texas Lawyer’s
Care, the Women’s Advocacy Project, Texas Association
Against Sexual Assault, Arte Sana and many others.
What
is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)*?
In
1994, certain provisions of VAWA provided immigration benefits
to battered immigrants. VAWA legislation was reauthorized
and revised in 2000. These revisions allow more immigrant
victims of domestic abuse to self-petition for legal permanent
residency without the assistance of their abusive US citizen
or legal permanent resident spouse.
Benefits
of VAWA
VAWA
allows battered immigrants to leave an abusive situation and
self-petition for legal permanent residency without the assistance
of their batterer. With an approved VAWA self-petition:
- An immigrant survivor of abuse can apply for employment
authorization to work in the US.
- An immigrant survivor of abuse can apply for legal permanent
residency in the US. After 3 or 5 years of LPR status, they
are eligible to apply for citizenship.
Who
may be eligible to apply under VAWA?
An
abused spouse or child of a US citizen or legal permanent
resident may be eligible to apply for VAWA. VAWA provisions
protect abused men as well. Immigrant children of the victim
are also protected, regardless of whether the child suffered
abuse. Victims of domestic violence within common law marriage
may also qualify, as common law marriage is recognized in
Texas and considered a bona fide relationship for immigration
purposes.
Did
you know...?
- Many
abusers of an undocumented immigrant spouse or child will
threaten to call “Immigration” as a means of
keeping the victim of domestic violence in an abusive situation.
- PRISA has had a 100% success rate with filed VAWA claims.
- In 2001, there were an estimated 183,440 incidents of family
violence in Texas **
- Among undocumented Latina immigrants, there is a 60% incidence
of battery and extreme cruelty -- among undocumented women
who are married to a USC or LPR, the incidence rate rises
to 77%.***
*VAWA
is not gender-specific.
**Information provided by the Texas Council on Family Violence
***Information provided by AYUDA Clinica Legal Latina
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