Presentation at 2023 Maryland Crime Victims’ Rights Conference (April 27, 2023)
Powerpoint
Training Materials
If you are a victim advocate, attorney, judge, or other professional working with an immigrant victim and you would like to receive case specific technical assistance on access to publically funded benefits and services that an immigrant crime victim or immigrant child would be eligible to receive in you state, please call NIWAP for technical assistance. (202) 274-4457 or email us at info@niwap.org. You can also visit the public benefits section of NIWAP’s web library https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/topic/public-benefits/
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Public Benefits Interactive Maps and State Charts
- Public Benefits Map
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/benefits-map - Maryland Screening Chart
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/maryland-benefits-screening - Maryland Full Public Benefits Chart
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/maryland-benefits - Maryland Demographics
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/maryland-demographics-data-2016 - All State Public Benefits Charts
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts/ - A Guide to Public Benefits Map for Immigrant Survivors of Crime
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/benefits-map-guide - State-Funded Public Benefits Comparison Chart (July 7, 2022) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/state-benefits-comparison-chart
- State-by-state Demographics
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/demographics
Webinars
- Immigrant Access to Federally Funded Housing Webinar: Collaboration with the National Housing Law Project (Feb. 22, 2017)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/february-22-2017-immigrant-access-federally-assisted-housing - Public Benefits and Services Legally Available to Immigrant Children and Victims – What Courts Need to Know?
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/public-benefits-courts-webinar-4-18-19/ - Enhancing Safety Planning and Immigrant Survivors’ Access to Public Benefits and Services in the District of Columbia (Sept. 16, 2020)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/sep-2020-public-benefits-dc - Healthcare: Understanding the Affordable Care Act and How it Affects Immigrant Survivors https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/immigrant-victims-healthcare
- Yes We Can!: Public Benefits for Immigrant Survivors
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/public-benefits-webinar/
Legal Rights Overviews and Brochures
- Multilingual Materials for Attorneys and Advocates by Title https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/multilingual-materials-by-title
- Multilingual Materials for Attorneys and Advocates by Language https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/multilingual-materials-by-language
- World Language Identification Guide: I Speak (Raksha) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/language-id-card-raksha
- DHS Infographic: Protection for Immigrant Victims (January 12, 2017) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhs-infographic
- Immigration Options for Victims of Crime – DHS Brochure
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/appendix-g-dhs-immigration-options-english - Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-Based Visa https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/marriage-based-legal-rights
- Pathways to Immigration Relief for Students (June 20, 2014) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/screening-students-for-immigraiton-protections/
Regulations and Policies
- Annotated Statutes Related to Public Benefits Eligibility for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Human Trafficking (October 31, 2021)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/1641-1631-benefits-laws-annotated - Interim Guidance on Verification of Citizenship, Qualified Alien Status, and Eligibility Under Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (November 17, 1997)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/interim-guidance-verification - Final Specification of Community Programs Necessary for Protection of Life or Safety Under Welfare Reform Legislation (January 16, 2001) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/protectionlifeorsafetyagreg
- Request for Comments on the Attorney General’s Specification of Community Programs Necessary for the Protection of Life or Safety Under the Welfare Reform Act (September 15, 1997)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/life-and-safety-progs-comments-request - HHS Domestic Violence Fact Sheet: Access to HHS-Funded Services for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence (August 22, 2012)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/hhs-immigrant-domestic-violence-fact-sheet - DHS Enforcement Priorities, Courthouse Enforcement and Sensitive Location Policies and Memoranda Information
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/dhsenforcementpriorities-benchcard
Public Benefits and Services for Immigrant Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
Bench Cards, Flow Charts and Evidence Check Lists
- Public Benefits Flow Charts: VAWA Self-Petition and Cancellation, U-Visas, T-Visas and SIJS
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/public-benefits-flow-charts/ - Evidence Checklist For Battered Immigrant Women Seeking Public Benefits (2014) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/evidence-women-seeking-benefits
- Evidence Check List for Immigrant Victims Applying for VAWA Self-Petitioning
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/evidence-checklist-vawaselfpetition - Evidence Checklist for Immigrant Victims Applying for the Crime Victim Visa https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-checklist-evidenceforuvisa
- Bench Card on Immigrant Crime Victim Access to Public Benefits and Services (2021)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-bchcrd-pubbenefits/ - Bench Card on Trafficking Victim Benefits Eligibility Process (2021)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/bchcrd-trafficking-victim-benefits-eligibility-process/ - Bench Card on U Visa Victim Benefits Eligibility Process (2021)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/u-visa-benefits-benchcard/ - Bench Card on VAWA Public Benefits Eligibility Process (2021) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-eligibility-process/
Overviews and Chapters, Multiple Benefits
- Public Benefits Toolkit
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-tkit-publicbenefits/ - Economic Relief and Public Benefits materials List – Multi-State Judicial Training (Albuquerque) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/2-economic-relief-and-public-benefits-4-15-18
- Programs Open to Immigrant Victims and All Immigrants Without Regard to Immigration Status
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/programs-open-to-all-immigrants/ - Anti-Discrimination Provisions that Apply to Programs Receiving Federal Funding Serving Victims of Violence against Women Crimes
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-tool-antidiscrimlaws/ - Annotated Violence Against Women Act Self-Petitioner Definition INA 101(a)(51) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/vawa-self-petitioner-annotated-ina-101a51
- Annotated Statutes Related to Public Benefits Eligibility for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Human Trafficking
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/annotated-qualified-immigrant-statutes-survivors - Chapter 16.1 Appendix: HHS Funded Programs Open to All Immigrants
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/hhs-funded-programs-immigrants/ - Chapter 16: Access To Programs And Services That Can Help Victims of Sexual Assault https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch16-programaccessforsexassaultdvvictims/
- Chapter 04.1: Access to Programs and Services that Can Help Battered Immigrants
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch4-1-access-to-services-helpbatteredimm/ - Chapter 04.2: Public Benefits Access for Battered Immigrant Women and Children
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch4-2-public-bens-access-battered-immigrants/ - Chapter 4.3 Barriers to Accessing Services: The Importance of Advocates Accompanying Battered Immigrants Applying for Public Benefits
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch4-3-importance-advocates - HHS Administration for Children and Families Trafficking Victim Adult Certification Handout (12557) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/adult_certification_handout
- HHS Administration for Children and Families Trafficking Victim Child Certification Handout https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/child_eligibility_handout-hhs
Public Charge and Immigrant Victims
- Public Charge and Deeming Rule Exemptions for Immigrant Survivors and Their Children Eligible: New Rule Published (September 2022)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/public-charge-deeming - Public Charge Test for Benefits Flow Chart
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/flow-chart-public-charge-test-housing-benefits - Infographic Public Charge Test for Housing Benefits (October 12, 2020) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/infographic-public-charge-and-housing
- The Impact of the 2020 Public Charge Rule on Transitional Housing (July 9, 2020) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/public-charge-and-transitional-housing
- Post-VAWA 2013: Immigrant Crime Victims and Public Charge
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imm-tkit-publicchargepostvawa2013/
Only Certain Law Enforcement and Benefits Workers Under Limited Circumstances Are Required Under Federal Law to Report Immigrants to DHS
- Privacy Protections for Immigrant Applying for Public Benefits https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/limits-on-required-government-agency-reporting
Non-Work Social Security Numbers
- Obtaining Non-work Social Security Numbers Needed by VAWA Self-Petitioners to Maintain Public and Assisted Housing
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/non-work-ssns-vawa-self-petitioners - Request That SSA Issue A Non-Work SSN to a Benefits Eligible Immigrant (June 2014 – Washington State Sample)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/sample-non-work-ssn-request-form - Social Security Administration Program Operations Manual System (POMS) (July 2017) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/non-work-ssns
- Triagency Letter: Citizenship Immigration Status and Social Security Numbers https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/triagency-letter-hhs-ag-citizenship-immigration-status-and-social-security-numbers/
- Evidence Checklists for Work with Immigrant Survivors – Includes Benefits and Non-Work Social Security Numbers
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/evidencechecklists/ - Obtaining Non-Work Social Security Numbers
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-tool-memononworkssns-11-17-00/
Driver’s Licenses
- Driver’s License Documentation Requirements by State https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/drivers-license-access
- State-Funded Public Benefits Comparison Chart (April 12, 2021)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/state-benefits-comparison-chart
Housing – Shelter and Transitional Housing
- Joint Agency Letter On Shelters and Transitional Housing (Web Page August 12, 2016)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/joint-agency-letter-shelters-transitional-housing/ - Webinar-Immigrant Crime Victim Access to Federally Assisted Housing (February 22, 2017) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/february-22-2017-immigrant-access-federally-assisted-housing
- HUD-HHS-DOJ Letter Regarding Immigrant Access to Housing and Services https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/hud-hhs-doj-letter-regarding-immigrant-access-housing-services/
- HUD, SNAPS, The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 and HUD’s Homeless Assistance Programs (Aug. 16, 2016)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/prwora-fact-sheet/ - NIWAP, Brochure for Transitional Housing https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/transitionalhousingbrochure/
- NIWAP, Fact Sheet: Immigrant Access to Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing (Oct. 23, 2016)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/shelter-trans-housing-advocacy-steps - What Shelter and Rental Housing Assistance are Available to Immigrant Survivors During COVID-19? (September, 2021)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/faq-immigrant-survivors-housing-september-2021 - VAWA Home: Rights for Survivors in LIHTC (The Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program) https://www.vawahome.com/
Housing – Public and Assisted
- Access to Public and Assisted Housing VAWA Self-Petitioners –Webpage (January 26, 2017)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/access-public-assisted-housing-vawa-self-petitioners/ - HUD, Memo for Secretary Julian Castro from Tonya Robinson, Acting General Counsel re: Eligibility of Battered Noncitizen Self-Petitioners for Financial Assistance Under Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 (Dec. 15, 2016) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/eligibility-of-vawa-self-petitioners-2016-12-15/
- HUD, Notice PIH 2017-02 (HA), Violence Against Women (VAWA) Self-Petitioner Verification Procedures (Jan. 19, 2017)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/hud-vawa-self-petitioner-verification-procedures/ - Annotated Section 214 of the Housing Act: 42 U.S. Code § 1436a – Restriction on Use of Public and Assisted Housing By Immigrants (October 31, 2021) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/annotated-housing-section-214
- NHLP, Memo: HUD Housing Covered by Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/nhlp-chart-federal-housing
- NHLP, Chart on Federally Assisted Housing and Immigrant Eligibility (Jan. 2018) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/nhlp-federally-assisted-housing-and-immigrant-eligibility-jan-2018-1/
- NIWAP, How to Advocate for Public and Assisted Housing for Your Battered Immigrant or Trafficking Survivor Client (Feb. 8, 2017)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pub-asst-housing-advocacy/ - NIWAP & Legal Momentum, HUD Programs and Immigrant Eligibility, Chapter 16.2 (Feb. 8, 2017)
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch16-2-hud-programs-imm-eligibility/
Healthcare
- Chapter 17: Access to Health Care for Immigrant Victims of Sexual Assault https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch17-accesshealthcare/
- State by state immigrant access to health benefits https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/state-by-state-immigrant-access-to-health-benefits
- Federal, Partnership, and state exchanges that provide state and state-option funded Medicaid or Medicaid-like services
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-qref-exchangesprovidemedicaidservices-06-16-14 - Pre-Natal Care and Child Health Care for Immigrant Victims – All States https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch17-4-prenatal-care
- Post Assault Healthcare and Crime Victim Compensation for Immigrant Victims and Children– All States
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch17-3-postassault-healthcare-compensation - Emergency Medicaid for Immigrant Victims – All States https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch17-1-emergencymedicaid
- Coverage for Forensic Costs for Immigrant Victims – All States https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch17-2-forensiccoverageimmvictim
SNAP- Food Stamps
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Guidance on Non-Citizen Eligibility https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/imms-snap/
- NILC: State-Funded Food Assistance Programs
State-Funded Food Assistance Programs – National Immigration Law Center (nilc.org) - Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAP), The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 and HUD’s Homeless Assistance Programs (August 16, 2016) (428) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/prwora-fact-sheet
TANF
- Domestic Violence Factsheet: HHS
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/domestic-violence-fact-sheet-_-hhs/ - NILC: State-funded TANF Replacement Programs
State-Funded TANF Replacement Programs – National Immigration Law Center (nilc.org)
Child Care
- Immigrant Crime Victim Child Care Access Chart
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-chart-childcare/ - Head Start Programs Memo
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-gov-hhsmemopolicyheadstartservices-05-02-08/ - Clarification of Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit” regarding Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Services
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/public-benefit-ccdf-services/
Education
- Student Aid Eligibility – Title IV Aid for “Battered Immigrants-Qualified Aliens” as provided for in VAWA- U.S. Department of Education Letter
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/student-aid-eligibility-titleiv/ - Eligibility for Title IV Aid for “Battered Immigrants-Qualified Aliens” as Provided For in the Violence Against Women Act, Department of Education Policy https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/pb-gov-memovawapetitionsgrantsloans-6-4-10
- Federal Student Aid Handbook – Immigration Status Eligible Students https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/fed-student-aid-citizenship-chapter/
Low-Income Home Energy and Weatherization Assistance Programs
- Low-Income Home Energy (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Assistance Programs (WAP) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/liheapwap_pp150-51_053006/
Immigration Relief
- Chapter 03.3: Preparing the VAWA Self-Petition and Applying for Residence https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch3-3-selfpetitionprep
- Chapter 03.6: U-Visas: Victims of Criminal Activity
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/ch3-6-uvisa-victims-criminal-activity - Evidence checklists
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/evidencechecklists
- USCIS policy manual chapter on VAWA
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/wp-content/uploads/VAWA-Policy-Manual-2.10.21-USCIS-Full.pdf , - Christina’s case from Texas (Example of human trafficking in domestic violence relationships) https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/christina-untold-stories-vawa-1994
- How to Get Detained Parents to Court
https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/how-to-get-a-detained-parent-to-court