Experiences of immigrant women who self-petition under the violence against women act

Maia Ingram; Deborah Jean McClelland; Jessica Martin; Montserrat F. Caballero; Maria Theresa Mayorga; Katie Gillespie

doi:10.1177/1077801210376889

Experiences of immigrant women who self-petition under the violence against women act

Maia Ingram, Deborah Jean McClelland, Jessica Martin, Montserrat F. Caballero, Maria Theresa Mayorga, Katie Gillespie

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Undocumented immigrant women who are abused and living in the United States are isolated in a foreign country, in constant fear of deportation, and feel at the mercy of their spouse to gain legal status. To ensure that immigration law does not trap women in abusive relationships, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA, 1994) enabled immigrant women to self-petition for legal status. Qualitative research methods were used in this participatory action research to investigate the experiences of Mexican immigrant women filing VAWA self-petitions. Emotional, financial, and logistic barriers in applying are identified, and recommendations for practice research and policy are provided.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	858-880
Number of pages	23
Journal	Violence Against Women
Volume	16
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801210376889
State	Published - 2010

Keywords

Immigrant
Legal aid
Participatory action research
Partner violence
VAWA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gender Studies
Sociology and Political Science
Law

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10.1177/1077801210376889

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abstract = "Undocumented immigrant women who are abused and living in the United States are isolated in a foreign country, in constant fear of deportation, and feel at the mercy of their spouse to gain legal status. To ensure that immigration law does not trap women in abusive relationships, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA, 1994) enabled immigrant women to self-petition for legal status. Qualitative research methods were used in this participatory action research to investigate the experiences of Mexican immigrant women filing VAWA self-petitions. Emotional, financial, and logistic barriers in applying are identified, and recommendations for practice research and policy are provided.",

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AU - Gillespie, Katie

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AB - Undocumented immigrant women who are abused and living in the United States are isolated in a foreign country, in constant fear of deportation, and feel at the mercy of their spouse to gain legal status. To ensure that immigration law does not trap women in abusive relationships, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA, 1994) enabled immigrant women to self-petition for legal status. Qualitative research methods were used in this participatory action research to investigate the experiences of Mexican immigrant women filing VAWA self-petitions. Emotional, financial, and logistic barriers in applying are identified, and recommendations for practice research and policy are provided.

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Experiences of immigrant women who self-petition under the violence against women act

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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