From Victim to Victor: Your Path to Legalization After Experiencing Crime in the U.S.

From Victim to Victor: Your Path to Legalization After Experiencing Crime in the U.S.

For many immigrants living in the United States—especially those who are undocumented or out of legal status—life is already filled with uncertainty. But when they become victims of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, that uncertainty turns into fear, trauma, and vulnerability. Often, victims stay silent out of fear of deportation […]

Know Your Rights: What to Do If ICE Stops You—Whether You’re a Citizen, Green Card Holder, or Undocumented

Know Your Rights: What to Do If ICE Stops You—Whether You’re a Citizen, Green Card Holder, or Undocumented

Editorial credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.com Encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can be terrifying—not just for undocumented immigrants, but for U.S. citizens and green card holders as well. The sight of ICE agents, the pressure of questioning, and the confusion about what you’re legally required to do can cause fear, panic, and even […]

Dividing Lives, Defending Rights: Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in New York When One Spouse Is Undocumented

Dividing Lives, Defending Rights: Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in New York When One Spouse Is Undocumented

Divorce is always challenging—but when immigration status is part of the equation, it becomes significantly more complicated. For couples in New York State, understanding the legal distinction between contested and uncontested divorces is the first step in navigating a separation. When one spouse is undocumented, the stakes are even higher, involving not just emotional and […]

Breaking Free: How VAWA Empowers Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Abuse to Reclaim Their Lives

Breaking Free: How VAWA Empowers Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Abuse to Reclaim Their Lives

In the quiet corners of homes across America, countless immigrant women endure unspeakable abuse—trapped not only by the pain inflicted by their spouses but also by the fear of losing their legal status and being deported. Many of these survivors are married to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who exploit their immigration vulnerability to […]

Does an Annulment Prevent a Plaintiff or Defendant from Filing a VAWA Application for Immigration Relief?

Does an Annulment Prevent a Plaintiff or Defendant from Filing a VAWA Application for Immigration Relief?

By Brian Figeroux, Esq.  The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides a pathway for survivors of domestic abuse to apply for immigration relief without relying on their abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse, parent, or child. VAWA allows these individuals to self-petition for a green card if they can demonstrate they were […]

The Exploitation of Undocumented Women in the U.S. by Predatory Marriages: A Legal and Social Analysis

The Exploitation of Undocumented Women in the U.S. by Predatory Marriages: A Legal and Social Analysis

By Esther Claudette Gittens Undocumented women in the United States face unique vulnerabilities that often expose them to exploitation. Among these risks is a pattern of abuse in which sex predators exploit their undocumented status by entering into manipulative marriages, not for love but as a means of control. These predators exploit the woman’s dependence […]

Are You in an Abusive Relationship? You Can Get a Green Card Through VAWA

Are You in an Abusive Relationship? You Can Get a Green Card Through VAWA

By Mary Campbell In 2021, the United Nations published the report “Measuring the Shadow Pandemic: Violence Against Women During COVID-19.” It said that since the pandemic, violence against women has increased to unprecedented levels. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine said that domestic violence cases increased by 25 to 33 percent globally. The National Commission […]

Domestic Violence Takes Many Forms

Domestic Violence Takes Many Forms

By Erin Telesford Domestic Violence (DV) is one of the most underreported crimes that take place in New York, yet it has some of the most extensive impacts on victims and those exposed to DV. Nationally, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience physical violence by their intimate partner at some […]

A Message From AM Jessica González-Rojas

A Message From AM Jessica González-Rojas

New York, NY – Jun 4, 2021: Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas speaks as Kirsten Gillibrand, Grace Meng, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others advocate for money to upgrade Obstetrical facility at Elmhurst hospital. (Shutterstock) October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Disturbingly, domestic violence remains a pervasive issue in New York, including here in Queens. The most recent police data […]