
I-360 VAWA Abuse to Be Called Illegal?

Around Thanksgiving 2020, after leaving church where I gave thanks, I posted my status on social media and my wife sent me a message “reminding me” that I could not leave the house. She claimed I was looking for women and I said it was not right for her to order me around. She replied, “That’s why it’s going bad for you. Only I can help you from being the undocumented that you are.” – Statement of client who won VAWA green card
From “My Love” to “Wetback”
Before contacting us for a legal safe haven, get safe. The number one priority is your physical wellbeing. Name calling is just one part of abuse and abuse can go from bad to terrible quickly. When a US citizen or legal permanent resident spouse – or adult child or parent – harms a noncitizen by humiliating them with names like “illegal” or “wetback” there’s worse going to happen. Our client quoted above, who won his green card based on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), survived humiliation of name calling, having his belongings thrown away, and being yelled at for calling a domestic violence shelter. Eventually, his wife began to strike out.
Does The VAWA Law Let Me Get a Green Card for Insults?
When Stan (not his real name) came to Blandon Law seeking help, he was ready to abandon the United States for his home country of Dominican Republic. We explained that the VAWA law allows him to get a green card for the extreme cruelty he suffered; physical harm is NOT required to get a VAWA green card. Stan cried when we told him that VAWA does not require hospital records. VAWA does not require medical records. It was clear that he had suffered too much.
Extreme cruelty means things like constant insults, threats, controlling behavior, and isolation from friends and family. It also includes financials abuse, where the spouse (or adult US citizen or legal permanent resident child) takes away access to money. Basically, extreme cruelty is ANY behavior that makes the noncitizen feel unsafe or trapped. Immigration law recognizes that this type of abuse is just as damaging as physical violence and protects those who have survived it.
Let Us Take Care of Your Green Card
Get help. Hire a therapist. Tell your trusted friends and family members what’s going on. And, importantly, let Blandon Law worry about the immigration side. We are immigration experts, certified by the association of our state’s lawyers for having a higher level of professionalism and know how than other immigration attorneys. If you or someone you know wants to talk about getting a green card as a survivor, please call 954.385.0157 or click “For Future Clients” today to schedule a talk.
Disclaimer – These entries are based on real life events. Family member names, when used, are real. Client names are changed for privacy.