Immigration Abuse: When Status Becomes a Weapon Day 9

For someone who is an immigrant, a noncitizen, or living in a household where immigration status is complicated, an abusive person may try to use that uncertainty as a weapon.

Abuse is all about control. The abuser uses the status of the survivor as a way to keep control over this person. They many threaten to call INS, ICE, or the police to be deported if they don't do what they are told or perform in a certain manner that could be illegal, sexual in nature, or just because.

The abuser may withhold their paperwork, important papers, passport, funds, medical care, or stop them from talking to authorities to help in their case. There may also have a language barrier.

Helping someone find out their options is important. Again, doing anything to place yourself in danger or the survivor in a volatile situation can be serious. Before you put on your detective hat please consider reaching out to an advocate or law enforcement for resources or help.

Find help and info here-

https://www.peaceoverviolence.org/legal-services

https://www.immigrantsurvivors.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline- ⁠⁠https://www.thehotline.org/⁠⁠

Safe Horizon- ⁠⁠https://www.safehorizon.org/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.domesticshelters.org/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations/international-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- ⁠⁠https://www.rainn.org/⁠⁠

Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS) provides advocacy services for Deaf and DeafBlind survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. ⁠⁠http://www.adwas.org/⁠⁠

Suicide prevention- ⁠⁠https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/⁠⁠

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)

Stay safe and God bless,

Mel