Advocates for immigrant domestic violence survivors say they’re avoiding police, courts and even shelters out of fear ICE will deport them.
When immigrant survivors of domestic violence contacted Libby Hasse in a crisis, the attorney had clear advice: Call the police.
But when a client called earlier this year to say that her abusive ex-husband was stalking her and sending threatening text messages, Hasse had to think twice.
Her client worried that calling the police would mean involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who could detain and deport her.
“She’s in this situation where she’s trying to weigh that risk and the benefit,” said Hasse, who works for the Tahirih Justice Center, a national nonprofit that serves domestic violence survivors.
“If she calls the police today, are they actually going to be able to do anything against this guy that’s stalking her and if not, are they going to be working with ICE?”
