Description

This training provides a comprehensive overview of how family law and immigration intersect, with a focus on protections available to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Topics that will be addressed include: paths to legal immigration status and public benefits access in Maryland for survivors of crime, U visa certification under Maryland law, unique needs of immigrant survivors in protection order, custody, divorce and economic relief cases, and VAWA confidentiality laws’ impact on discovery in family law cases and promotion of safety for victims at courthouses.  The session will also cover the role of legal aid, relevant regulations, and practical strategies for supporting immigrant clients safely and effectively within family law proceedings.

Navigating Family Law and Immigration Protections for Immigrant Survivors (PowerPoint)

Post-training Evaluation Survey

Training Materials for Family Lawyers

Directory of Programs With Experience Serving Immigrant Victims

Civil Protection Orders

Immigrants and Protection Orders Bench Card (March 30, 2019)

Civil Protection Order Webinars For Judges, Court Staff, Attorneys and Victim Advocates – National Judicial Network (2023 & 2024)

National Judicial Network Peer-to-Peer Session – State Protection Orders: A Civil Remedy for Victims of Human Trafficking (March 4, 2025)

Chapter 05.1: Battered Immigrants and Civil Protection Orders (July 1, 2013) 

Chapter 14.01: Protection Orders of Immigrant Victims for Sexual Assault (July 3, 2013)

Creative Methods in Protecting Battered Immigrants (June 20, 2014)

Custody

Family Court Bench Card on Issues that Arise in Custody Cases Involving Immigrant Parents, Children, and Crime Victims

When Family and Immigration Laws Intersect: Case Law and Department of Homeland Security Policy Update (November 28, 2021) 

The 2025 ICE Detained Parents Directive Vs. the 2022 ICE Parental Interests Directive

*Best Interest of the Child Statutes – State-by-State Maps and Comparison Charts (December 2017)

Philadelphia Legal Assistance: Planning for Custody

Detained or Deported: What About My Children? What to do if You Can’t Be With Them [pdf]

Divorce, Economic Relief, and Affidavit of Support

Bench Card: Impact of Divorce on Immigration Status (December 28, 2021)

Bench Card for State Court Judges on Common Issues that Arise From Parties’ Immigration Status: Economic Remedies (March 10, 2022)

Bench Card for State Court Judges on Common Issues that Arise From Parties’ Immigration Status: Economic Remedies (March 10, 2022)

Chapter 06.4: Ensuring Economic Relief for Immigrant Victims Through Family Law Proceedings: Child Support and Spousal Support (July 1, 2013)

Affidavits of Support and Enforceability Bench Card (September 30, 2021)

‘Til Death Do Us Part: Affidavits of Support and Obligations to Immigrant Spouses (October 2012)

Amicus Curiae brief from National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project in Support of Appellant (September 16, 2016) Ashlyne Kumar

Immigration Relief for Victims

Bench Card on Immigration Relief for Battered Spouses, Children, and Immigrant Crime Victims

Comparison Chart of U visa, T Visa, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petition, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Preparing a VAWA Self Petition

U-Visas: Victims of Criminal Activity

U-Visa: “Helpfulness” Checklist 

T-Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (October 20,2021)

U Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (February 28, 2022)

Maryland U-visa Certification Law (Effective October 1, 2025)

Screening

Immigration Options for Victims of Crime-Information for Law Enforcement, Healthcare Providers, and Other Front-Line Workers

Immigration Relief for Abused, Abandoned, or Neglected Children Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification

DHS Interactive Infographic on Protections for Immigrant Victims

Battering or Extreme Cruelty

Battering or Extreme Cruelty: Drawing Examples from Civil Protection Order and Family Law Cases (September 12, 2015)

SPARC Judicial Officer Guide: Responding to Stalking (July 5, 2022) -includes comparison of stallking, coercive control and battering or extreme cruelty

Victims of Human Trafficking 

Questions for Identifying Trafficked or Enslaved Persons (June 2011)

Domestic Violence and Involuntary Servitude as Human Trafficking (August 17, 2023)

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) & U Visa

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Training Materials (October 7, 2024)

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Case Law (October 1, 2024)

Settled Law: The Role of State Court Judges in Making Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Judicial Determinations (November 26, 2024)

U Visa Certification and T visa Declaration Toolkit for Federal, State and Local Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates and Other Judicial Officers

Chapter 03.6: U-Visas: Victims of Criminal Activity (August 8, 2023)

VAWA Confidentiality

Three Prongs of VAWA Confidentiality

Letters That Promote ICE Compliance With 2025 Policies and Statutes

Bench Card on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Confidentiality

Advocate’s Guide to Immigrant Survivors’ Rights and Protections

Public Benefits – Maryland

All State Public Benefits Charts and Interactive Public Benefits Map (2025)

Maryland Public Benefits Chart (2025)

Maryland Public Benefits Infographics (2026)

Benefits for Immigrant Crime Victims: Technical Assistance on Eligibility for Maryland (November 13, 2024)

Healthcare

Health Care Options for Immigrant Survivors Factsheet (August 5, 2024)

Coverage for Forensic Costs for Immigrant Crime Victims (August 2, 2024)

Health Care Access for Lawfully Present Immigrants – Definitions (May 27, 2024)

Programs Open to Immigrant Victims and All Immigrants Without Regard to Immigration Status (July 23, 2015)

Research from 2017 and 2021

Promoting Access to Justice for Immigrant and LEP Crime Victims in an Age of Increased Immigration Enforcement – National Report (May 3, 2018)

Transforming Lives: How the VAWA Self-Petition and the U Visa Change the Lives of Survivors and their Children After

Employment-Authorization and Legal Immigration Status – Abstract, Conclusions and Recommendations (June 8, 2021)