front+page+1.jpg

JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Join our network of advocates defending the rights of all survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and gender-based abuses for access to life-saving protections.

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.

Help spread accurate information.
See our toolkit for content and graphics.

Media Release: AIS Applauds WISE Act Introduction During Sexual Assault Awareness Month

To mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Adriano Espaillat, and Jimmy Panetta introduced the Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (WISE) Act. AIS welcomes this vital piece of legislation and calls on every Member of Congress to cosponsor it today.

“The WISE Act presents a roadmap to justice and safety for immigrant survivors across our communities in America and will ensure that every survivor of domestic and sexual violence knows that reaching out for help will be safer than staying silent,” said Archi Pyati, CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center. “We call on every member of Congress to protect the right of immigrant survivors to live in safety and dignity by passing the WISE Act.”



ais StandS with Survivors: This Month and Always

April isn’t just about awareness – it’s about action. This month – and every month – AIS stands with survivors. 

We stand with those who broke their silence and marched to demand change in the 1970s, laying the foundation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We stand with the protectors who established Child Abuse Prevention Month to recognize that children deserve safety and families need support. We stand with advocates who draft safety plans and accompany survivors on their path to healing. We stand with educators and advocates who teach youth to build healthy relationships and prevent violence before it happens.

The blue pinwheels and teal ribbons fluttering this month are more than symbols. They represent hope and healing, and they remind us of the original vision: action and advocacy.

AIS EXPLAINER: Immigration Policy Updates and their Impact on Survivors of Gender-based Violence

AIS has created a detailed explainer for service providers and advocates including our initial analysis of select January 20, 2025 Executive Orders (EOs) and subsequently released administrative actions, specifically discussing the impact on immigrant survivors and access to protections for which they may be eligible.

Though the barrage of EOs was part of a deliberate strategy to overwhelm, to sow fear, and to dehumanize immigrant communities, AIS is committed to standing alongside immigrant survivors and those who serve them, and we are ready to provide resources, support, and advocacy for paths to safety and protection.

AIS Statement: AIS Denounces Executive Orders

The incoming President issued numerous Executive Orders (EOs) and other administrative actions advancing an inhumane and xenophobic immigration agenda that is a broadside attack on those protections. AIS strongly opposes these measures that will shut down pathways to safety for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing persecution, undermine public safety, and interfere with immigrant survivors’ ability to seek safety and provide for themselves and their families.

The EOs,combined with the shutdown of the CBP One app, will make it practically impossible to seek asylum in the United States. Restricting asylum seekers and refugees puts them at further risk, endangering their lives.