Written By Emily Melluso Graduate Assistant for the Office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs

Content Warning: Includes cases of graphic sexual assault. Unless otherwise noted, all definitions and statistics referenced in this article are sourced from the Tahirih Justice Center website.

As we move through the final stretch of this year’s Critical Social Justice week, we have explored several barriers that immigrants experience in the United States.  We have learned about the ignition of courage within individuals, how this light connects them together, and can bring them into spaces of safety, community, and recovery. Since October is domestic violence awareness month (read more here) and during CSJ there are events centered on the experiences of undocumented immigrants, I think it is important to see how these two topics interact . First, what is domestic violence?“Domestic violenceis a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control. Domestic violence may include physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse, and economic deprivation” (Tahirih Justice Center, 2018). As part of our learning journey with critical social justice is the discovery that there are always dark lived events and experiences but it is important to note that justice, safety and recovery are not equally accessible to everyone individually.

For some, they must travel a very and strenuous trek to find a safe place for both them and their loved ones. Some must go through injury, harm, and danger before they can access healing. I would like to share just a single narrative of those dark places in our global society.I would like to once again warn you of the graphic sexual content of this post.

The following is a true story of a woman who experienced intimate partner violence. Norma’s story is an excerpt from Tahirih Justice Center, a non-profit that supports immigrants fleeing violence from their countries of origin.

Norma was only 15 years old when she was abducted, raped, and forced into marriage by a violent older man who threatened to kill her family if she refused. At 20 years old, while pregnant with their child, Norma was hospitalized after a particularly brutal beating; the baby barely survived. Norma’s father convinced her to go into hiding and hired a private attorney to file for divorce, in secret, on her behalf. They knew it was only a matter of time before her ex-husband found out. Fearing for her life, Norma fled to California.

Now free from her ex-husband, Norma began a life in the United States, as an undocumented immigrant. Years later, she fell in love with John*, a U.S. citizen who was initially was smart, fun-loving, and handsome. After living together as a family for three happy years, John began drinking heavily and staying out all night. Norma was stunned and heartbroken when he admitted to cheating on her. John begged for Norma’s forgiveness and swore he would change.

With promises of a business they could own together, a bigger house, better schools for the children, and a renewed sense of commitment, John convinced Norma to move to Houston. They bought a house with their shared savings, and John finally proposed marriage. It didn’t take long after getting married for John to start drinking again. This time, it worsened. John started beating and raping Norma. As a method of control and humiliation, he would lock Norma outside or force her to sleep on the floor of the home they owned together. He became increasingly emotionally abusive, blaming Norma’s performance as a wife and a mother for the physical and emotional pain he inflicted.

When she finally built up the courage to leave, John used Norma and her children’s undocumented status to exploit, intimidate, and threaten her. He promised to have them deported if they called the police, and he destroyed Norma’s personal documents to prevent her from filing for immigration relief on her own. He removed her name from their shared bank accounts, canceled her credit card, and eventually forged her signature on a document transferring full ownership of their house to his name. John showed Norma that he could take everything from her, and made her fear reaching out for help as much as she feared him. Norma’s voice got smaller and smaller.

Just when Norma started to give up, a member of her congregation noticed that she needed help, and offered her a place to stay for nothing in return. She connected Norma to a domestic violence support group at the Houston Area Women’s Center, where she was referred to Tahirih. Norma’s neighbor lifted her up, community resources connected her to a path forward, and Tahirih helped her access protection under U.S. law.

Her own perseverance and the support of her community helped Norma find her voice again, stronger than ever. Now, Norma gives back to her community by joining the fight to end violence against women. She tells her story to domestic violence survivors, church groups, radio shows, and in women’s prisons as evidence that fear can be overcome, survivors are never alone, and there is always a path forward.

While domestic violence is a national epidemic in the United States, immigrant women and girls are disproportionately impacted. There are many factors which make this population especially vulnerable, including reliance on abusers for legal immigration status or limited knowledge of the English language. Immigrant women and girls in the United States are almost twice as likely to experience domestic violence than the general population. For undocumented women and children in the United States, their histories with domestic violence are often two-fold. Many come to the United States seeking refuge, asylum or protection from relationship or gender-based violence at home including forced marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting, honor crimes, human trafficking, rape, torture, and domestic violence. For immigrant women and girls, their struggle for humane treatment may not end with arriving in the United States. One in three women around the world will be raped, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime (Tahirih Justice Center, 2018). These same women and girls are also less likely to leave their abusers due to fear of immigration consequences, such as being deported and separated from their children or families.

WHAT IS TAHIRIH?

The Tahirih Justice Center is the only multi-city, national organization that provides direct service and policy advocacy for women and girls seeking support, visas, asylum and other forms of protection from gender-based violence. Tahirih has five locations in the U.S. including the Baltimore location which opened in 2010. Tahirih’s numbers in 2017 include 502 Baltimore clients and their family members protected through free legal services; 171 Baltimore clients and their family members connected to vital social services; and 1,764 community members and frontline professionals trained. For more information about the types of legal protections available, visit https://www.tahirih.org/what-we-do/direct-services/legal-services/. For more information about the reaction of Tahirih to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ revoking of asylum protection for victims of gender-based violence, visit https://www.tahirih.org/news/breaking-news-asylum-protections-revoked/.

HOW TO GIVE HELP

Please consider donating to the UMBC fundraising page to reach our goal of $1,000 to support the efforts of our local Tahirih Justice Center as they fight for the protection of women and girls under the law.

HOW TO GET HELP

If you are an immigrant woman or girl who needs help, or know someone who needs help, please visit https://www.tahirih.org/locations/baltimore/baltimore-programs/.

Programs and services offered in Baltimore include free legal services and social services, training and education, trafficking prevention, and poverty alleviation and family stabilization programming, including life skills workshops and a medical debt forgiveness project.

Written by Becca Mann, Mosaic Intern for Student Gender Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion in Campus Life.

There is no denying that U.S.-born citizens hold privileges over immigrants, no matter their status (e.g., undocumented, visa recipient, permanent resident). My parents and I were all born in America. I recognize that there are many privileges that are granted to us because of this, and are withheld from those with a non-citizen status. Some of these privileges were things that took some time for me to learn about and the different experiences that immigrants may have encountered because they held a different status. Furthermore, I’ve grown to understand that these privileges excluding non-citizens are nothing personal to immigrants. Instead, they are part of something systemic that cause lack of access to necessary resources to many people living in the U.S.

Although not immigrant-related, this issue has made me think of the classic 1989 text, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. This piece creates the connection on how “Whiteness” grants “invisible” privileges to those who hold a White Identity. Although some of the items on the 26-point list may sound outdated, they resonate with how it has connected to my citizenship status. I would also like to be clear that I am also White. Now, there are definitely still privileges granted to those who are citizens regardless of race, but I want to take note of my racial identity because of how these two identities intersect.

(Picture taken from Los Angeles Times, 2014)

With this, I would like to provide only 12 of the many ways in which I benefit from my citizenship status (note: please keep in mind that the items on the list affect different immigrant groups in unique ways):

1. Although I still have to pay back my loans, I qualify for Federal Financial Aid in my pursuit of a college degree (FASFA.gov, 2018). I do not have to be concerned about my ability to stay in college is connected to my status.

2. In addition, I can qualify for cash welfare, food stamps, medical assistance if our family was ever financially struggling (Maryland.gov, 2018). I have a social security number, the prerequisite to access any of these.

3. I have the ability to travel anywhere and don't have to worry about not getting back in the country. I can go through airport security and customs easily.

4. I feel comfortable filling out job applications and don't have to worry about not being able to apply because of my status. Yes, you know that little box that asks, “Can you legally work in this country?” That’s because of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

5. I don't have to renew a United States work permit every two to three years like some visa holders (USCIS, 2018). For that matter, this saves me the $495 for every time an immigrant has to renew it. I never have to worry about being sponsored by an employer in order for me to start working.

6. I don't have to keep tons of backups of identification on me at all times. In other words, I can just carry my license and not have to also think about carrying a passport, birth certificate, green card and/or social security card. I know this may also be due to my Whiteness. I acknowledge this can be something that citizens of color may still experience.

7. I don't have to deal with the awkwardness of friends not knowing my status or listen to mainstream media making derogatory comments on the citizenship statuses of me or my family.

8. I don't have to update my biometrics every year by scheduling an appointment with the Application Support Center— including my personal information, fingerprinting, and pictures (USCIS, 2018).

9. When I hear a knock on the door, I don't have to worry about it being ICE. I don't have to worry about the fear of deportation (or the deportation of my family members). If I plead guilty to a crime or if my status is discovered by the wrong people, I will not be removed for the United States to a potentially dangerous foreign environment.

10. I will never have to prove how American I am and that I belong in this country, even though I speak the language and have a job/family here. Again, a little Whiteness may be at play here.

11. I’m not called "undesirable" or “unworthy” for living in the United States. If I am discriminated against, I have the ability to practice my freedom of speech without the fear of deportation through a potential arrest.

12. I CAN VOTE! Although not all citizens vote, I know that I am partially responsible for selecting the people in government who represent me and create policies that affect all of us.

Want to get involved and connect with other immigrants/allies?

Join us for the eventsI Stand With Immigrants Day of Action and Igniting Consciousness Into the Undocumented Immigrant Experience TODAY Wednesday, October 24th!

Written By Sylvia Anokam, Mosaic Intern for Black and Africana Student Engagement in Campus Life.

Frequently during discussions relating to undocumented immigrants, you are likely to encounter the argument “Why can’t they come here legally?” People who ask this don't understand the complexity of the legal process. In reality, the visa process is a prolonged, expensive, selective, exclusionary, and limited process. The quantity of visas for those seeking Permanent Residency in the United States is limited. Furthermore, family-based visas are limited to what the United States considers “immediate relatives” for Permanent Residents (i.e. spouses, children). This definition is slightly expanded for U.S. Citizens to include siblings or parents. This definition of immediate family excludes grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins which in many non-western, collectivist societies are still considered part of the nuclear family.

Work-based visas are exclusive to those who have exceptional talents in fields such as the sciences, medicine, arts, education, business, athletics, or to those have an advanced degree. That leaves a large sector of the international population ineligible to enter the country. This inadvertently also causes what is seen as “brain drain” in other countries, but that is something for another conversation. But if you are one of those who fit the privileged criteria above to receive either of those visas, you will still encounter socioeconomic difficulties during the application process.

To begin, the application fee alone can cost between $160 to $500 per application (U.S Department of State, 2018). You will need to contract an immigration attorney to assist with the paperwork. In addition, you must visit multiple doctors to receive all of the extensive required examinations and vaccinations (e.g. Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Tetanus and diphtheria, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Meningococcal disease, Varicella, Pneumococcal disease, Seasonal influenza) (cdc.gov, 2012). Keep in mind that all these have their own associated medical and legal costs and that this is before your application process can be initiated!

(image from http://dreamacttexas.blogspot.com, 2008)

The process requires time flexibility as there are many appointments and interviews. You will need to make time in your schedule for your legal representative, the embassy specific to your country of origin, and US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) to name a few. However, even after going through this entire process, you may still not be granted a visa. If you are lucky enough to get the green light, there still will be a wait period that ranges from five to fifteen years depending on your national origin. Additionally, just because you may qualify for this process does not mean everyone in your family also will be granted their visas. The wait time varies because the United States prioritizes those who are coming from countries with the least amount of immigrants, typically other Western or industrialized countries. On the other hand, this means that those who are coming from the global South are less likely to qualify or are likely to wait longer.

Imagine an average family composed of four member going through this process—it can cost between $1,740-$3,100 (not taking into account the exchange rate if done outside the US) just for the application and medical costs. And that is if you’re lucky enough to have a smooth, hassle-free process. Mistakes occur which may require “re-do’s” of applications, interviews as well as additional legal fees. Local non-profits like CASA offer low interest loans for those applying but some immigrants don't even have families who are citizens to file for them.  Or, they don't have the educational qualifications or skills required to be eligible to file for work visas. For those living abroad, economic disparities may make these costs even harder to afford. Looking back at where most immigrants in the United States come from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and China, the average annual income is $19,900, $8,100, $8,900,$5,600, $16,700, respectively (CIA World Factbook, 2018). It does not take advanced math skills to know that the average families in these countries do not have the money to afford these fees.

There are people that have multiple family members living in the United States and may ask for financial support, but typically immigrants living in the United States already struggle financially. This can be a financial burden too large for most people to do it “the legal way.” So we encourage those who tell immigrants to “get in line” to understand that it is not easy for  those like me and my relatives.