The Senate's reauthorization of VAWA, S1925, passed in late April and includes improved protections for Native Americans and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It also does more to help immigrants, including expanding the U visa program to 15,000 annually. The 15 Republican votes in favor included all five GOP women.
But on May 16, the House passed its own version, HR 4970, which, along with stripping the Senate's new protections, cuts back on existing safeguards.
Among a long list of criticisms, NIJC decries a section in HR 4970 that would require self-petitioners to be interviewed at least twice at their local immigration office, a process NIJC says could add months of waiting time. Current law allows petitions to be evaluated without an interview, which is only required later when the victim, from the more secure position of holding an approved petition, applies for a green card or permanent residency. Hidalgo said delays can be a matter of life and death: "The most dangerous moment for a victim of domestic violence is when she looks for a way out of her situation" - as Silvia discovered.
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A Whittled-Down Violence Against Women Act Could Mean Life or Death for Immigrant Women
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