Agenda - 01-23-2007-6c - Laserfiche WebLink

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1??3 For example, VAWA 2000's self-petitioning provision allows a victim abused by a spouse who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident to obtain legal immigration status. Additionally, VAWA 2000's U and T Visa provisions offer protection for immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking who have suffered substantial physical or emotional injury and who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of the crime, The CLEAR Act would threaten much of the headway that VAWA 2000 made for immigrant victims of domestic violence, and harm thousands of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes that Congress intended to help under these laws. "NOW activists and all women's rights supporters must speak out on behalf of.their sisters who are struggling to make better lives for themselves," said Vives. "Tell Congress that they should be searching for ways to help immigrant women and their children rather than stripping them of protections they need." The CLEAR Act will also open the door for greater abuse or misapplication of complex immigration laws, since local police are unlikely to receive the 17 hours of immigration law training that federal agents must receive before they start work. NOW, along with more than 100 other human rights organizations, has come out in opposition to this bill, citing the detrimental effect it will have upon immigrant women and our justice system. Go to www.now.org/congress to send a message to your congress members on this important issue. Subscribe to Action Alerts and the News and Action Summary at www.now.org/lists. EO Send or ka Print this page Take Action ( Join / Donate Issues Chapters I About NOW Shop RSS ( Links I Privacy Policy I Home Copyright 1995-2006, All rights reserved. Permission granted for non-commercial use. National Organization for Women