Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence: Cultural Challenges and Available Legal Protections

This resource addresses immigrants' status as a complex and diverse population of ethnic and national groups with varied backgrounds. Some immigrants have fled difficult situations in their home countries while others have been drawn by economic opportunities. Little attention has been paid to immigrant women who are battered. While no specific estimates exist on their numbers, the issues they face are not only those that affect battered women who are citizens, but also a number of cultural and legal barriers to seeking safety (Narayan, 1995). This resource delves into topics such as major barriers to seeking help, legal protections for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, and crime.