Standing with Survivors: This Month and Always
Scapegoating immigrants as a response to violence against women is not what survivors have asked for and does not make our communities safer
April 7, 2025 — April isn’t just about awareness – it’s about action. This month – and every month – the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (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.
To fulfill this vision, we must focus on what survivors need most:
Respect: All survivors deserve to be believed and respected when they speak their truth.
Safe Havens: Well-funded shelters, transitional housing programs, and housing assistance funds must remain available for all courageous survivors seeking help.
Multiple Pathways to Safety: Every survivor deserves access to safety and support as they heal. One-size-fits-all approaches fail those with complex needs.
Confronting Myths, Upholding Truths: Scapegoating immigrants as a response to violence against women is not what survivors have asked for and does not make our communities safer. Dangerous, xenophobic myths and narratives about immigrants perpetuate unnecessary barriers to safety for some of the most vulnerable survivors. Immigrant survivors need to know that the world outside is safer than staying behind closed doors.
It is our responsibility to interrupt harmful misinformation whenever we see it.
The truth is:
Between 1980 and 2022, as the immigrant population more than doubled, crime rates fell by over 60% (AIC).
Immigrants are arrested at significantly lower rates than U.S.-born citizens across all crime categories, including sexual assault (NIJ).
Nineteen peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2017 and 2024 all reached the same conclusion: increased immigration either has no effect on crime rates or is associated with decreased criminal activity (MPI).
These findings transcend statistics. They are a powerful testament to the positive community impact of immigrants.
To all survivors:
We see you.
We believe you.
We stand with you.
This month, and every month, AIS proclaims that all survivors deserve to be believed, and to receive support on their path to safety, justice, and healing. We also honor the legacy of the survivor advocates who established these months of recognition to accelerate a national conversation about healing and prevention. Together, we will continue our work to realize the vision of those that came before us: a country where all people can live free from violence, and no one is afraid to ask for help.
Thank you for standing with immigrant survivors!
Team AIS