COVID-19 Pandemic Resources for Immigrant Survivors & Advocates

We’ve created and gathered several COVID-19-related resources for immigrant survivors and advocates to help keep you informed and engaged during this unprecedented time:

April 2020 (Updated October) - The Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) is concerned about the increased risk of harm for immigrant and refugee survivors of violence and their need to access COVID-19 screening and care, as well as access to critical economic support as job insecurity increases. Immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking already face a myriad of barriers accessing services to help them escape abuse, including the fear that reaching out for help will result in their deportation or separation from their families.

The coronavirus pandemic compounds these barriers; as survivors face an increased risk of abuse during times of crisis, especially if they are confined at home with an abusive partner. During this crisis, abusers have threatened to throw victims out on the street so they contract the illness or have withheld financial resources and assistance. Programs that serve survivors and their families are also significantly impacted by this crisis, legal programs may be closed, shelters at capacity, and medical assistance limited. Survivors may fear reaching out for help during this time for fear of being in close contact with others.

We’ve created and gathered several resources we’re posting on this webpage to help keep you informed and engaged during this unprecedented time - please share any of them with survivors, advocates, and service providers you know. You can also find recent news articles with additional information on our news webpage. For any questions or recommendations for other resources we can share, please contact us at info@immigrantsurvivors.org. 

Impact of COVID-19 on Gender-Based Violence AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

Policy Asks to Address the Needs of Survivors of Violence


Coronavirus Health Care and Economic Stimulus Bills

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (CARES Act, H.R. 748): After passing two prior emergency measures, on March 27, Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus bill, to provide economic relief and health care options during the COVID-19 pandemic. The same day, the President signed the Act into law. The CARES Act includes a number of provisions that AIS and our allies advocated for that will aid and support survivors of violence, including immigrant survivors. However, the bill fails to include other important measures that we will continue advocating for in future legislation to ensure access to crucial economic and health care supports for all. 


Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act, H.R. 6800)
On May 12, 2020, the House introduced the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which would, among other things,

  • increase funding for Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA - $50 million) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs ($100 million - see details on the break-down for different programs here on page two), and waives matching fund requirements that could otherwise prove impossible for resource-strapped programs to meet at this time;

  • provide additional stimulus payments to help sustain hard-hit families, and this time, ensures that the payments go to all taxpayers, including immigrant victims who file and pay taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN);

  • ensure that uninsured individuals, including immigrant victims, in states that opt to cover them through Medicaid have access to free COVID-19 testing, treatment, and care;

  • automatically extend, for a temporary period, immigration status or work authorization, including that of immigrant victims, that has expired or is set to expire during the emergency.

Additional resources:

Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act (H.R. 6437)
On April 3, Senator Hirono and Representative Chu introduced the Coronavirus Immigrant Families Act, which would, among other things,  

  • Modify immigration policies that would deter immigrant survivors from seeking services for the duration of the coronavirus emergency, including suspending the public charge rules, suspending in-person ICE checks, limit immigration detention and deportation of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking who have pending immigration applications; and suspending immigration enforcement actions at or near sensitive locations, such as hospitals, courthouses, domestic violence shelters, and other sensitive locations;

  • Ensure that everyone has access to COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines by providing Medicaid coverage of COVID-19-related services to everyone;

  • Provide $100 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide language access and public outreach on coronavirus preparedness, response, and recovery to hard-to-reach populations; and

  • Ensure access to COVID relief measures for vulnerable communities by allowing immigrant taxpayers to access cash relief benefits with an individual tax identification number (ITIN); and automatically extending expiring work authorization for immigrants during the coronavirus emergency for the same time period as was previously authorized.

This bill likely serves as a starting point for future negotiations on the inclusion of immigration specific provisions in future legislation in response to the COVID-19 crisis.


Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (H.R. 6379)
On March 23, the House of Representatives introduced H.R. 6379. The bill includes many of the gaps in the CARES Act, including expanded access to Medicaid for all individuals to access COVID-19 treatment, cash payments to all taxpayers, and increased funds for services and programs that specifically support survivors of domestic violence. This bill likely serves as a starting point for future negotiations on legislation in response to the COVID-19 crisis.


COVID-19 Messaging/Advocacy

  • National Immigrant Law Center, COVID-19 Messaging Guide - General messaging about the coronavirus and messaging on policy and solutions that you can use to lift up the impact of COVID-19 on low-income immigrants. (April 2020)

  • Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign, PIF COVID-19 Federal Advocacy Packet - Provides information on how to reach out to your Members of Congress, tips for legislation advocacy, and important policy issues.

Survivor Advocates

  • Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Resources to Support Asylum Seekers and Immigrants During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Bilingual page with resources for immigrant communities on workers’ rights; access to health care public services, and cash aid; and detained immigrants and families. the page also includes resources for advocates in working with survivors and immigrants.

  • Casa de Esperanza, COVID-19 Resource Library, Language Access is essential for our community's safety and well-being, so Casa de Esperanza created a bilingual virtual library to share important information, policies, and resources. (Resources in English/Recursos en Español)

  • National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), Resources on the Response to the Coronavirus - Advocates working in local programs and shelters are facing additional challenges as they seek to continue uninterrupted services for survivors. In response to the request of guidance and resources for emergency preparedness for domestic violence shelters and programs concerning the novel coronavirus, NNEDV compiled recommendations and resources. (March 12, updated regularly)

Access to Health Care, Safety-Net Benefits, and Other Special Protections 


USCIS - status, Citizenship & DACA

  • ASISTA, USCIS Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 - Letter urging USCIS to take additional steps to address the special barriers facing immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other serious crimes during this unprecedented emergency. These steps include extending deadlines, extending status and employment authorization documents (EAD), freezing ages of applicants or their derivatives so that they don't “age-out” of eligibility for protection, and providing greater latitude with forms and submission of evidence. (April 7)

  • United We Dream, COVID-19 USCIS Office Closures Guidance - USCIS offices are closed to in-person services until at least May 3 in response to COVID-19. Find out what this means if you're in need of biometrics appointments at Application Support Centers and/or renewing your DACA status. (March 25, Updated April 1)

  • Urgent Request to USCIS for Emergency Measures - Several organizations and individuals signed a letter that echoes calls by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, ASISTA, and the Legal Aid Society that USCIS adopt emergency measures to immediately suspend or extend filing deadlines, toll time-related eligibility bars, and automatically extend statuses and benefits. (March 31)


Staying Safe

  • Futures Without Violence, Information On COVID-19 For Survivors, Communities, And DV/SA Programs - Survivors often have specific needs around safety, health, and confidentiality. Futures has compiled resources and tools for more vulnerable members of our communities and care providers, who are working tirelessly to respond in ways that are safe and supportive for all.