Anything he does affects her situation, her future. For many of these women, returning to their native country is not an option, since divorce can bring shame and ostracism on the family. Though she comes from a wealthy, liberal family, Mallika says her parents would continually plead with her husband not to divorce her. She is afraid her family will pressure her into marrying again if she returns to India. According to Orloff, the home country often provides less protection for women's custody and alimony rights.
Deportation is dangerous for women with children, even when the case ends up in a U.S. court.
They may not be able to take their children out of the country unless they have gained custody. Many immigrant women don't have the financial resources to wage a custody battle, since spouse visas don't allow the holder to work or receive public assistance. Mallika's husband controlled all the bank accounts and credit cards, therefore ensuring she never had any money of her own. His attitude was that since I don't work, I don't have any rights. A counselor at the New York Asian Women's Center describes Mallika as a well-educated person traumatized by abuse from which there seemed no escape.