Both arms of Congress have finally reauthorized a version of VAWA that doesn’t purposefully exclude people on the basis of their ethnicity, immigration status, or sexual orientation.
There’s a big secret about the bill to address the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, introduced by Representative Adams, that’s no longer so secret: it’s racist, elitist, homophobic and anti-victim.
The House of Representatives should take a deep breath, change course, and revise its Violence Against Women Act bill to ensure that our laws continue to uphold our nation’s proud tradition of protecting vulnerable immigrant victims.
Unfortunately, House Republicans are advancing H.R. 4970, which would undermine the core principles of VAWA. H.R. 4970 is not VAWA – it goes against the intent of VAWA which is to protect victims – if anything, this bill will only make it worse for victims.
The government cannot let abusers continue to have control. The government is supposed to protect victims. VAWA saved my life, and I hope it is left as it is now so it can continue to save other women in dangerous situations.
We are appalled at the immigration provisions that the judiciary committee in the House of Representatives passed in HR4970. This bill erodes protections available to immigrant victims who are the victims of domestic abuse.
