In the eleven months I have lived in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, at least three women have been murdered by their husbands. Domestic violence is a serious problem that crosses racial, economic and religious boundaries. I n 1994, President Clinton signed into law the Violence Against Women Act, with a provision under Immigration law for battered spouses and their children. Normally, a U.S. citizen or legal resident spouse would apply for the legal status of his or her family members, but this control over a person's legal status is inevitably abused in any relationship where the husband and wife are on unequal footing. And while woman are also recognized as potential batterers, the overwhelming number of reported abusers are male.
Domestic violence is a serious problem that crosses racial, economic and religious boundaries.
She has been in the United States for more than a dozen years. Her children are U.S. citizens. But she remains undocumented because her husband abuses her, and as part of that abuse, refuses to legalize her status. M y clients utterly overwhelm me with their stories, their strength and resilience, their commitment to their children, and their continued faith in God. The warning signs were small at first.