Elfreth Stands With Survivors of Domestic Violence
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) voted against H.R. 30, Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. Regrettably, this legislation harms survivors of domestic violence, which is why more than 210 local and national organizations that serve and work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault oppose this legislation.
“Every year in the United States, more than 10 million men and women become victims of domestic violence, and nearly 3 in 10 women have experienced some form of domestic violence. Today, I stood with the National Task Force to End Sexual & Domestic Violence—consisting of over 210 trusted organizations—in opposing H.R. 30. Unfortunately, the bill as passed puts those survivors at greater risk,” said Congresswoman Elfreth. “I do agree with my Republican colleagues that more can and must be done to support survivors of this violence and hold abusers accountable. I plan to work with Ranking Member Raskin, Congressman Olszewski, and these domestic violence groups on a bill that offers real solutions: ensuring abusers don’t fall through the cracks of our justice system while also protecting survivors. I invite my Republican colleagues to join us to pass comprehensive solutions to reduce violence against women, increase funding to investigate and prosecute these crimes, and end the backlog of rape kits that are sitting in evidence rooms. That is what domestic violence survivors deserve.”
Under existing immigration law, those who commit domestic violence, sexual offenses, or similar crimes are already unable to enter the country and are subject to deportation. H.R. 30 adds redundant grounds and broadens the definition in H.R. 30, which will make victims who acted in self-defense, victims who were wrongly accused by their abusers and were unable to defend themselves or pled guilty (to avoid a messy court process) inadmissible to the country and subject to deportation. Contrary to its title, this bill would also apply to people who have legal status, such as green card holders, students, temporary workers, and DACA and TPS recipients.
“We oppose this legislation as it would expand the circumstances under which domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, stalking, and sex offenses would constitute grounds of inadmissibility, as well as expand the definition of domestic violence to be considered for inadmissibility or deportability grounds,” wrote the organizations in their letter of opposition. “These measures would negatively impact immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and fail to alleviate the primary barriers to safety and stability experienced by survivors seeking relief under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
In Maryland alone, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Network Against Domestic Violence, The Human Trafficking Prevention Project, and the University of Maryland SAFE Center oppose H.R. 30. Read the full letter HERE.
###