Challenges for Immigrant Women + Children

While domestic and sexual violence affects people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds, it brings unique challenges to immigrants in the U.S. Cultural, linguistic and immigration status barriers often become major obstacles as victims attempt to gain safety, including:

+ Limited English proficiency that hinders one’s ability to call 911 and find other help

+ Lack of legal immigration status or reliance on abusers as immigration sponsors

+ Fear of deportation and/or forced separation from children

+ Isolation

+ Small immigrant community where everyone knows each other and it is difficult to escape

+ Self-blame, shame, or guilt about the abuse

+ Feeling intimidated to seek services or report crime

+ Lack of any form of identification (driver’s license, social security number, state I.D., etc.)

+ Limited financial resources, lack of job skills or experiences, or no credit history

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Help is available! Call our 24-hour hotline at 773.583.0880 and learn about your rights and options!

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