Women Battered immigrant women face unique legal, social and economic problems.
Domestic violence is thought to be more prevalent among immigrant women than among U.S. citizens.
Immigrant women may suffer higher rates of battering than U.S. citizens because they come from cultures which accept domestic violence, or because they have less access to legal and social services than U.S. citizens. In addition, immigrant batterers and victims may believe that the penalties and protections of the U.S. legal system do not apply to them. A battered woman who is not a legal resident, or whose immigration status depends on her partner, is isolated by cultural dynamics which may prevent her from leaving her husband or seeking assistance from the legal system. These factors contribute to the higher incidence of abuse among immigrant women. A battered immigrant woman may not understand that she can personally tell her story in court, or that a judge will believe her.