JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS
Un informe revela por qué les sobrevivientes inmigrantes de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual temen a la policía y los tribunales
La Alianza para Sobrevivientes Inmigrantes publicó los resultados de una encuesta nacional de defensores y abogades que evaluó cómo los cambios en las políticas federales de inmigración están afectando la disposición de les sobrevivientes inmigrantes a denunciar abusos e interactuar con las fuerzas del orden.
“Lo que escuchamos fue claro y alarmante: les sobrevivientes inmigrantes tienen un miedo profundo de buscar ayuda de la policía o los tribunales,” dijo Cecelia Friedman Levin, Coordinadora de Defensoría de AIS. El setenta y seis por ciento de les defensores reportaron que les sobrevivientes inmigrantes tienen preocupaciones sobre contactar a la policía para denunciar violencia doméstica y agresión sexual.
AIS 2025 Year in Review: looking back & moving forward
As we close out the year, we are deeply grateful for the strength, partnership, and commitment of the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) community.
This may have been one of the hardest years this movement has faced, but we have been sustained by one another and all of you. Together we rose to meet the moment and made a meaningful impact defending and advancing safety, dignity, and justice for immigrant survivors.
Take a look at just a few of our favorite highlights from 2025.
Thank you for being a part of this community and for all you do every day to support immigrant survivors.
We look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.
AIS STATEMENT: Halting benefit processing for some countries means prolonged danger, instability, and trauma, not safety
The Alliance for Immigrant Survivors strongly opposes the Department of Homeland Security’s recent decision to halt immigration benefit processing following the tragic shooting over the Thanksgiving holiday. While violence must always be taken seriously, the agency’s imposition of blanket interruptions to immigration benefit processing in response to the actions of a single individual is a sweepingly reactive measure that will not improve public safety.
Instead, it places immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, including asylum seekers fleeing gender-based persecution, at heightened risk by cutting off timely access to protection, stability, and due process.
AIS Report Reveals Why Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault are Fearful of Police and Courts
Our report, Fear and Silence: 2025 Insights from Advocates for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking, provides insights into what advocates are reporting and witnessing while working with immigrant survivors this year.
“What we heard was clear and alarming: immigrant survivors are deeply afraid to seek help from the police or the courts,” said AIS Advocacy Coordinator Cecelia Friedman Levin. Seventy-six percent of advocates reported that immigrant survivors have concerns about contacting the police to report domestic violence and sexual assault.
The report includes targeted recommendations for Congress, the administration, state and local government, and advocates.
Fear and Silence: Insights from Advocates for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking
Graphic of report cover featuring an old-fashioned black public telephone headset dangling in the air in front of a yellow background.
AIS Report Reveals Why Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault are Fearful of Police and Courts
Our report, Fear and Silence: 2025 Insights from Advocates for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking, provides insights into what advocates are reporting and witnessing while working with immigrant survivors this year.
“What we heard was clear and alarming: immigrant survivors are deeply afraid to seek help from the police or the courts,” said AIS Advocacy Coordinator Cecelia Friedman Levin. Seventy-six percent of advocates reported that immigrant survivors have concerns about contacting the police to report domestic violence and sexual assault. Read Our Report
Un informe revela por qué les sobrevivientes inmigrantes de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual temen a la policía y los tribunales
El año pasado, la Alianza para Sobrevivientes Inmigrantes (AIS) publicó un resumen de los resultados principales de una encuesta nacional de defensores y abogades que realizamos, seguido de un informe original, Pánico y Silencio: Observaciones de les defensores de les inmigrantes sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica, abuso sexual y trata de personas en 2025. Hoy, publicamos una versión en español de ambos recursos, que ofrecen más información sobre lo que les defensores están reportando y siendo testigos mientras trabajan con les sobrevivientes inmigrantes de violencia doméstica, agresión sexual y trata de personas.
“Lo que escuchamos fue claro y alarmante: les sobrevivientes inmigrantes tienen un miedo profundo de buscar ayuda de la policía o los tribunales,” dijo Cecelia Friedman Levin, Coordinadora de Defensoría de AIS. El setenta y seis por ciento de les defensores reportaron que les sobrevivientes inmigrantes tienen preocupaciones sobre contactar a la policía para denunciar violencia doméstica y agresión sexual. Lea la versión en español de nuestro informe
Graphic of report cover featuring an old-fashioned black public telephone headset dangling in the air in front of a yellow background.
ALERT: VAWA, U and T visa programs have NOT been cancelled or terminated! These bipartisan protections were created by Congress and the Administration cannot unilaterally take them away. While there is news that ICE has changed its guidance on enforcement actions related to potential or actual beneficiaries of victim-based benefits, we want to be VERY clear that the VAWA, U and T visa programs have NOT been cancelled or terminated. Please consult with a trusted immigration attorney in your area with any questions. You can find a qualified immigration attorney at the National Immigration Legal Services Directory. AIS will put out more information on this guidance soon.
ALERTA: ¡Los programas de visa VAWA, U y T NO han sido cancelados ni eliminados! Estas protecciones bipartidistas fueron creadas por el Congreso y la Administración no puede eliminarlas unilateralmente. Aunque hay noticias de que ICE ha cambiado su orientación sobre las acciones de cumplimiento relacionadas con posibles o actuales beneficiarios de programas de ayuda a víctimas, queremos dejar MUY claro que los programas de visa VAWA, U y T NO han sido cancelados ni eliminados. Consulte con un abogado de inmigración de confianza en su área si tiene preguntas. Puede encontrar un abogado calificado en el National Immigration Legal Services Directory. AIS publicará más información sobre esta nueva orientación pronto.