Publisher: * NIWAP

[pdf] Access to State-Funded Public Benefits in Maryland for Survivors (May 15, 2019, updated January 19, 2025) (+)

This chart describes the federal and when offered state funded public benefits that immigrant crime victims are legally eligible to access. Which benefits a victim can access depends on:
• On the victim’s immigration status or the immigration relief the victim is in the process of applying for;
• Which benefit they are applying for; and
• When they entered the United States.
The chart provides information about benefits eligibility for VAWA self-petitioners, refugees, asylees, T and U visa applicants, children applying for SIJS and DACA, and undocumented victims. The chart covers eligibility for: TANF, Child Care, SNAP (food stamps), WIC, health care, educational grants, loans and in-state tuition, driver’s licenses, housing, tax credits, legal services, weatherization assistance, and FEMA assistance.

Published January 19, 2025 by

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[pdf] State Protection Orders as a Remedy for Human Trafficking Victims (March 4, 2024) (PowerPoint) (+)

What has been learned from over 50 years of experience working with civil protection orders (CPOs) for victims of domestic violence, is that CPOs provide an important justice system option that is independent of the criminal justice system. This peer-to-peer forum helps judges better identify the full range of civil protection order options available in each state for victims of human trafficking. In this session, faculty rolls out NIWAP’s fifty-six jurisdiction review of how protection orders can help adult and child victims of both sex and labor trafficking in states across the country.

Published March 4, 2025 by ,

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[pdf] Types of Civil Protection Orders Available By State Chart (December 31, 2024) (+)

This charint compares the type of civil protection orders available each state that offer state court orders for victims in a state court proceedings victims can control and direct. The chart reviews which protection orders are available in each state to offer protection to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, labor trafficking, sex trafficking, dating violence, elder abuse, child abuse, harassment, workplace violence and also extreme risk/gun violence protection orders.

Published December 31, 2024 by

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[pdf] State Laws on Civil Protection Orders for Victims of Human Trafficking (December 31, 2024) (+)

This publication provides an overview of the types of civil protection orders available for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, human trafficking and other forms of victimization available in each state and U.S. jurisdiction. This publication focuses particularly on how civil protection orders can offer protection for adult and child victims of human trafficking (sex and labor).

Published December 31, 2024 by

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[pdf] Access to Civil Protection Orders for Victims of Human Trafficking: State-By-State CPO Tables (December 31, 2024) (+)

This document collects and tracks the text of state protection order statutes in all 56 state and U.S. jurisdictions reporting each type of civil protection order available in each state, what forms of abuse and/or crime each protects against, and who is eligible to receive each type of civil protection order. The chart then analyses for each state the extent to which and under what circumstances an adult or child victim of human trafficking (labor or sex) would be eligible to obtain a civil protection orders against their traffickers. The goal of this project is to help state court judges, attorneys, victim advocates, and other professionals working with victims of human trafficking be better able to help victims access this civil protection orders which are an important victim controlled and victim centered form of civil and family court protection.

Published December 31, 2024 by

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[pdf] Family Law Training Materials (January 7, 2025) (+)

This is an inclusive list of all NIWAP’s training tools and resources related to family law. It also includes a link to subscribe for NIWAP’s newsletter and to access NIWAP’s web library and for state family law judges it contains a link to subscribe to the National Judicial Network.

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[pdf] Protection Orders Webinar Materials List (January 18, 2025) (+)

This list of training materials on civil protection orders has been developed to assist state court judges, attorneys, and victim advocates working with immigrant survivors. It covers protection orders for vicitms of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The list includes training tools, training manual chapters, bench cards, and links to webinars.

Published January 18, 2025 by ,

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[pdf] Special COP VAWA Confidentiality Myths and Facts 2.11.25 (+)

“VAWA Confidentiality Protections for Immigrant Survivors: Myths, Facts and Best Practices” , hosted in a question-and-answer format. Since this is a follow-up session, it is for members who attended the February 11th meeting. If you did not attend the meeting, we strongly encourage you to please review the materials posted on our web library before the upcoming meeting on February 25th

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[pdf] VAWA Confidentiality Myths and Facts Courthouse Protections (February 4, 2025) (PowerPoint) (+)

This NJN peer-to-peer session provides judges with up-to-date information about VAWA confidentiality’s protections for immigrant survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault appearing at court. Judges learn to identify which victims qualify for VAWA confidentiality protections, as well as myths and facts about when federal VAWA confidentiality laws protect victims from removal and at protected locations including courthouses. The session provides a short overview of how VAWA confidentiality impacts state court discovery.

Published February 4, 2025 by ,

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[pdf] Advocate’s Guide to Immigrant Survivors’ Rights and Protections (February 23, 2015 – Update January 7, 2025) (+)

A guide for advocates and attorneys on immigrant survivors rights if they become the subject of immigration enforcement. This tool helps advocates providing advise to immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault about steps both the immigrant crime victim and the advocate/attorney should take should the victim become the subject of an immigration enforcement action.

Published January 7, 2025 by

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[pdf] U and T Visa Certification State Law Requirements: Review, Comparison, and Trends (December 31, 2024) (+)

This article reviews and charts the provisions of each of the U and T visa certification laws that have been passed by state legislatures in twenty states. State U and T visa statutes are designed to encourage state and local agencies to sign U visa certifications and T visa endorsements statewide while fostering consistency and transparency in victim’s ability to access certifications. State U and T visa certification law provisions are broken down into topics. The section on each topic includes a brief overview of the topic, a bulleted list comparing the various ways state laws address the topic, and a chart with the text of the provisions in each states’ laws addressing that topic. The charts facilitate swift identification on trends and emerging issues related to each topic and will help advocates, attorneys, judges, and government agency staff quickly identify the U and T visa certification laws that apply in their states, in neighboring states, or other states to which a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, child abuse, elder abuse, or human trafficking is considering moving when fleeing an abusive home, workplace, or trafficker.

Published December 31, 2024 by

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[pdf] Creative Civil Protection Order Remedies That Holistically Address Victim’s Safety and Cultural Needs (December 3, 2024) (PowerPoint) (+)

In this national webinar, faculty will discuss the importance of protection orders and the remedies that most effectively protect immigrant victims and their children, as well as the role that no unlawful contact protection orders play for immigrant victims. Faculty will address these issues with a culturally sensitive lens by discussing factors such as the victim’s cultural, religious, immigration-related, financial, and other needs through creative protection order remedies. The presentation will also include protection order remedies that interfere with the levers of power and control being employed by the perpetrator against the victim.

Published December 3, 2024 by ,

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

This article surveyed all of the publicly available SIJS cases issued through the date of this article’s publication. Ultimately, this survey demonstrates that the majority of state courts are issuing decisions that have become settled law and that these courts’ decisions are consistent with federal SIJS statutes, the March 2022 USCIS regulations, and USCIS policies and publications on SIJS laws and the SIJS program. Although Congress substantially amended the SIJS statute in 2008 to expand the number of immigrant children eligible for SIJS, this article demonstrates that during the decade and a half after the law passed and before USCIS issued final regulations in 2022, many state courts struggled to issue rulings in SIJS cases that were consistent with the federal SIJS statues and USCIS policies. Despite this fact, as this article documents, many courts did issue rulings that correctly interpreted and applied federal SIJS laws and issued SIJS judicial determinations that immigrant children who had suffered parental maltreatment could use to file their SIJS petitions with USCIS.

Published September 3, 2024 by ,

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[vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet] Special Immigrant Juvenile Status – Case Law Chart (October 1, 2024) (+)

This Appendix “X” provides a case law chart for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status state court cases from across the country including reported and unreported cases through November 2024. This appendix is in locked excel format allowing users to sort by any of the chart columns. It includes an All States tab and additional tabs that report on case law by state for each of the states in which reported or unreported cases could be identified. As new cases are published please forward them to NIWAP by emailing info@NIWAP.org with the message title “NEW SIJS CASE” to help us identify new cases to add to the chart more swiftly.

This publication was developed under grant number SJI-20-E-005 from the State Justice Institute. The points of view expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the State Justice Institute.

Published September 5, 2024 by

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[pdf] Power and Control Tactics Used Against Immigrant Women (Power and Control Wheel) (Updated: November 25, 2024) (+)

This immigrant power and control wheel is based on the original version developed by Ayuda and Futures Without Violence in in 1996 that adapted with permission from the Domestic Abuse Prevention Project in Duluth Minnesota. This version removes references to DHS and updates the dynamics wheel to include emerging forms of abuse against immigrant women.

Published November 25, 2024 by , ,

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[pdf] Benefits for Immigrant Crime Victims: Best Practices on Eligibility (November 14, 2024) (+)

This report provides a brief discussion of the current eligibility criteria for a variety of public benefits, including food assistance, cash assistance (TANF), healthcare, and Supplemental Security Income, as well as access to Driver’s Licenses for persons who cannot provide proof of lawful status including specifically immigrant survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and human sex and labor trafficking. The report focuses particularly on benefits for immigrant crime survivors who have filed or are preparing to file for immigration relief: VAWA Self-Petitioners, U visa applicants, T visa applicants, applicants for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and applicants for Continued Presence.

For each public benefit type, the report discusses a model state law as well as options for a more incremental approach. It then provides a menu of options, drawn from other state law approaches, that states can use to extend eligibility for public benefits to more immigrant victims of crime and abuse. The report also provides an analysis of best practices where appropriate.

Published December 14, 2024 by

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

This report provides a brief description of Maryland’s current eligibility criteria for a variety of public benefits, including food assistance, cash assistance (TANF), healthcare, and Supplemental Security Income, as well as access to Driver’s Licenses for persons who cannot provide proof of lawful status including specifically immigrant survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and human sex and labor trafficking. The report focuses particularly on benefits for immigrant crime survivors who have filed or are preparing to file for immigration relief: VAWA Self-Petitioners, U visa applicants, T visa applicants, applicants for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and applicants for Continued Presence. For each benefit type, the report discusses a model state law as well as options for a more incremental approach. It then provides a menu of options, drawn from other state law approaches, for Maryland to extend eligibility for public benefits to more immigrant victims of crime and abuse than it currently does. The report also provides an analysis of best practices where appropriate.

Published November 13, 2024 by

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[pdf] 10.14.2024: Family Law COP “Financial Issues for Immigrants in the US” (+)

This session will discuss financial issues that commonly affect immigrant families in the U.S. We will highlight who is eligible to work, who qualifies to obtain an Employment Authorization Document, social security numbers, and Individual Tax Identification numbers. We will also discuss collecting child support from undocumented parents.

Published October 15, 2024 by ,

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[pdf] 6.11.24: Family Law COP “Leveraging Immigration Affidavits of Support in Divorce Action” (+)

This COP discusses how Affidavits of Support can be used when representing Immigrant Survivors in a divorce action. We discuss financial barriers in an abusive relationship and economic relief for survivors. We also talked about what Affidavits of Support are and who is exempt from Affidavits of Support requirements and public charge. In addition, we discussed how Affidavits of Support are calculated.

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[pdf] Judicial Officer Reminders for Stalking Behaviors (April 30, 2024) (+)

Checklist to assist judicial officers in identifying and making findings about stalking behaviors judges identify in the cases they hear. It is important for judges to document in the findings in their court orders stalking behaviors. Stalking is a crime that is made up of a pattern of behaviors that occur, repeat, and escalate over time. When judges make findings about stalking behaviors in protection order, custody, divorce, child welfare and other family court proceedings, those findings document behaviors occurring and help judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials in future cases be better able to identify patterns of stalking.

Published April 30, 2024 by ,

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[pdf] When Federal Immigration Laws and State Family Laws Intersect: Promoting Just and Equitable Outcomes for Immigrant Survivors and Children (October 8, 2024) (PowerPoint) (+)

This plenary highlights what every state court judge needs to know to promote access to justice and fairness when immigration law issues arise in state court cases involving litigants, victims of crime or abuse, and children who are immigrants or live in immigrant families. Faculty provide an overview of the major forms of immigration relief that Congress created to protect immigrant victims of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, sexual assault, and stalking and identify how access to public benefits, services, and supports grow as eligible immigrant victims and their children pursue victim-based forms of immigration relief.

Published September 30, 2024 by

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[pdf] *August 8, 2024 CJI Webinar – Improving Access to Justice for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Human Trafficking (+)

Webinar Description: During the webinar, NIWAP and CJI provided an overview of different immigration relief and public benefits for immigrant survivors, including: VAWA, SJIS, U Visas, and T Visas. Also discussed issues commonly raised by perpetrators in child custody and divorce cases as well as language access for limited English proficient survivors. This webinar was sponsored by the Center for Justice Innovation for Justice for Families Grantees.

Published 10/3/2024 by ,

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[pdf] Health Care Options for Immigrant Survivors Factsheet (August 5, 2024) (+)

This Fact Sheet describes how immigrant survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes can access free health care to meet their post-assault physical and mental health care needs. It describes health care open to all victims without regard to immigration status. It also discusses what health care options are available for immigrant survivors through the Victims of Crime Act, state and federal public benefits and the benefits of reporting crime victimization to law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and other government agencies for immigrant survivors who will be filing for immigration relief through the U and T visa programs.

Published June 20, 2024 by ,

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[pdf] Herstory: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Public Policy Timeline Highlighting Accomplishments on Behalf of Immigrants and Women of Color (September 10,2024) (+)

This document outline of the accomplishments that advocates working on behalf of violence against women survivors have achieved through working collaboratively nationally. This list includes many achievements that
benefits all survivors, but focuses specifically on the wide range of public policy achievements attained by advocates that particularly affect women of color, immigrant women and underserved survivors. These gains for
survivors illustrate the myriad of ways advocates can work together to make this a better world and create more opportunities for healing and support for survivors.

Published September 10, 2024 by

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[pdf] What Happens When We Get It Wrong? Predominant Aggressor Determination in Cases Involving Immigrant and non-English Speaking Victims – Manchester, NH (September 4, 2024) (+)

This session provides an opportunity to review hypothetical case scenarios where a primary/predominant aggressor determination must be made, yet where the analysis is not overwhelmingly clear. The unique challenges faced by immigrant survivors/victims and the consequences when non-citizens acting in self-defense are arrested will also be addressed.

Published August 28, 2024 by ,

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[pdf] U Visa Timeline with Background Checks (August 11, 2024) (+)

U-Visa timeline including background checks. This timeline has been updated to reflect the USCIS 2021 policies on bona fide determinations and their impact on U visa case processing which over time will provide access to protection from deportation and work authorization to U visa applicants who pass background checks and receive bona fide determinations from USCIS. Victims will remain in bona fide status while they await the date a U visa becomes available to issue them.

Published August 11, 2024 by

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[pdf] Trauma Informed Structured Interview Questionnaires for Immigrant Cases (SIQI) (July 23, 2024) (+)

The SIQI tool’s goal is to help identify stalking and human trafficking that are co-occurring with domestic violence and child abuse. The following questionnaires are provided to facilitate the Trauma Informed Structured Interview, which is the second part of the Trauma Informed Immigration Story Writing Intervention Method. During the story developing session, clients are encouraged to share their story uninterrupted while advocates and attorneys listen, take notes, and watch for triggers. This tool is designed to be used during follow up interviews with clients. This Structured Interview Questionnaire for Immigration (SIQI) will aid advocates and attorneys in eliciting additional in-depth information to strengthen their client’s immigration case and will also provide a complete picture of trauma and distress endured by survivors. The questions are designed to facilitate the client’s healing and to strengthen the client’s immigration application by uncovering important details of the story by screening for additional incidents, experiences, and emotional harms that contribute to extreme cruelty and/or substantial mental or physical abuse. Attorneys and advocates should explain the goals of this session to the client before initiating the trauma informed structured interview. This 2024 version incorporates questions helpful to assessing stalking behaviors and risk factors.

Published July 23, 2024 by ,

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[pdf] T Visa Regulations: 2002, 2016 & 2024 – Regulations, Comparison, and Regulatory History (June 24, 2024) (+)

This tool was developed by NIWAP to facilitate better understanding of the T visa regulations and its regulatory history. This document compares the regulations that were issued in 2002, 2016, and 2024. It identifies the portions of the 2002 and 2016 regulations that remain in effect and highlights and annotates portions of the regulations that […]

Published June 24, 2024 by

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[pdf] Child Protective Services Agency Toolkit: U Visa Certification, T Visa Declaration, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and Violence Against Women Act Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrant Children (July 8, 2024) (+)

This toolkit provides an overview of humanitarian immigration relief that Congress has provided for the protection of abused noncitizen children, and/or their noncitizen parent. The toolkit focuses on four visa types: (1) the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition, (2) the U visa for crime victims, (3) the T visa for human trafficking victims, and […]

Published July 8, 2024 by

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[pdf] Affidavits of Support and Enforceability Bench Card (June 13, 2024) (+)

This bench card provides an overview of the two forms of Affidavits of Support that state family court judges may be asked to enforced as part of a divorce action involving an immigrant spouse who was sponsored for their “green card” by their U.S. citizen spouse. It discusses the history and enforceability of the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support and the evidence value of both the I-864 Affidavit of Support and the older Form I-134 Affidavit of Support. It also illustrates for judges and family law attorneys how to calculate the support due by the citizen spouse to the immigrant spouse under the I-864 Affidavit of Support. The Bench Card includes citations to and reports case law on Affidavits of Support.

Published June 13, 2024 by

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[pdf] Health Care Access for Lawfully Present Immigrants – Definitions (May 27, 2024) (+)

This publication provides a tool to help victim advocates, forensic nurses, health care providers, attorneys and other professionals working with immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, child abuse, and human trafficking identify lawfully present immigrant survivors who:
• Are eligible under federal law to purchase healthcare on state and federal healthcare exchanges; and
• May be eligible for state funded healthcare subsidies.

Published May 27, 2024 by

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[pdf] Annotated Statutes Related to Public Benefits Eligibility for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Human Trafficking (May 27, 2024) (+)

This document is an annotation with footnotes and explanatory text of the U.S. code sections that determine which immigration are qualified immigrants eligible to access federal and state public benefits. It assists readers in understanding which forms of immigration status or in some circumstances (particularly battered immigrants and human trafficking victims) pending immigration status an immigrant must have to be eligible for many federal and state public benefits. Which benefits a qualified immigrant can receive and when they are eligible to receive any given benefit will vary by benefits program, the immigrant’s immigration status, whether they have a pending application for certain forms of immigration relief, the state the victim resides in and when they first entered the United States. This document is intended to be used together with NIWAP’s public benefits maps and charts which provide detailed information by immigration case type and by state. Additionally, this document discusses the special exemptions from deeming rules that apply to cases involving certain battered immigrants.

Published May 27, 2024 by

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[pdf] Annotated Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petition Definition INA 101(a)(51) (May 27, 2024) (+)

This annotated statute guides readers through the various types of immigration relief available for immigrants who were subjected to battering or extreme cruelty by their spouses, former spouses, parents, children, and step-parents who were U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA) , Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA), and Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) applicants, or recipients. Note that NACARA applicants may be El Salvadoran, Guatemalan, or from a list of countries in Eastern Europe. This definition of VAWA self-petitioner is relevant for immigration relief, public benefits and VAWA confidentiality purposes.

Published May 27, 2024 by

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[pdf] Chapter 17.3: Post-Assault Healthcare and Crime Victim Compensation for Immigrant Victims of Violence (May 24, 2024) (+)

Chapter in Empowering Survivors: Legal Rights of Immigrant Victims of Sexual Assault. Under federal crime victim compensation laws states provide health care assistance to crime victims that includes health care funded by the Victims of Crime Act Compensation Act (VOCA). How health care for crime victims is funded, what health care services are covered, how victims apply, and which crime victims are covered varies state by state. In all but one state VOCA funded crime victim compensation is open to all victims without regard to immigration status. Alabama severely restricts the numbers of immigrant victims who can access VOCA funded crime victims compensation based on the immigration status of the victim at the time the crime victimization occurred. This chapter includes two sets of state by state charts that briefly, and in detail, summarize the provisions available by state to immigrant victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes, as well as the victim compensation laws and processes to receive compensation for each state, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Published May 24, 2024 by

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[pdf] Legal Protections for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence That Enhance Victim and Community Safety. North Platte, NE (April 26, 2024) (+)

Training on This training will provide an overview of the protections under immigration, public benefits, protection order and family laws that help immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, child abuse and human trafficking. Faculty will discuss how victim advocates, attorneys, law enforcement, healthcare providers, prosecutors and other professionals can collaboratively work together to improve safety for immigrant victims, their families and the community.

Published April 26, 2024 by

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[pdf] Access to State-Funded Public Benefits in Nebraska for Survivors (Updated January 18, 2025) (+)

This chart describes the federal and when offered state funded public benefits that immigrant crime victims are legally eligible to access. Which benefits a victim can access depends on:
• On the victim’s immigration status or the immigration relief the victim is in the process of applying for;
• Which benefit they are applying for; and
• When they entered the United States.
The chart provides information about benefits eligibility for VAWA self-petitioners, refugees, asylees, T and U visa applicants, children applying for SIJS and DACA, and undocumented victims. The chart covers eligibility for: TANF, Child Care, SNAP (food stamps), WIC, health care, educational grants, loans and in-state tuition, driver’s licenses, housing, tax credits, legal services, weatherization assistance, and FEMA assistance.

Published February 21, 2019 by

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[pdf] Vermont Public Benefits Screening Chart for Immigrant Survivors and Refugees by Forms of Immigration Relief (Updated January 18, 2025) (+)

Vermont – This public benefits screening chart helps immigrants, refugees, judges, victim advocates and attorneys quickly understand which state and federal public benefits an immigrant or refugee qualifies for in each state. Eligibility varies by state, by immigration or refugee status, and by benefits program. This tool is designed by be used together with NIWAP’s public benefits maps and state public benefits detailed charts. https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts

Published January 18, 2025 by

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[pdf] Pennsylvania Public Benefits Screening Chart for Immigrant Survivors and Refugees by Forms of Immigration Relief (Updated January 14, 2025) (+)

Pennsylvania – This public benefits screening chart helps immigrants, refugees, judges, victim advocates and attorneys quickly understand which state and federal public benefits an immigrant or refugee qualifies for in each state. Eligibility varies by state, by immigration or refugee status, and by benefits program. This tool is designed by be used together with NIWAP’s public benefits maps and state public benefits detailed charts. https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts

Published January 14, 2025 by

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[pdf] Delaware Public Benefits Screening Chart for Immigrant Survivors and Refugees by Forms of Immigration Relief (updated January 5, 2025) (+)

Delaware – This public benefits screening chart helps immigrants, refugees, judges, victim advocates and attorneys quickly understand which state and federal public benefits an immigrant or refugee qualifies for in each state. Eligibility varies by state, by immigration or refugee status, and by benefits program. This tool is designed by be used together with NIWAP’s public benefits maps and state public benefits detailed charts. https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts

Published April 4, 2024 by

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[pdf] Access to State-Funded Public Benefits in Pennsylvania for Survivors (Updated January 3, 2025) (+)

This chart describes the federal and when offered state funded public benefits that immigrant crime victims are legally eligible to access. Which benefits a victim can access depends on:
• On the victim’s immigration status or the immigration relief the victim is in the process of applying for;
• Which benefit they are applying for; and
• When they entered the United States.
The chart provides information about benefits eligibility for VAWA self-petitioners, refugees, asylees, T and U visa applicants, children applying for SIJS and DACA, and undocumented victims. The chart covers eligibility for: TANF, Child Care, SNAP (food stamps), WIC, health care, educational grants, loans and in-state tuition, driver’s licenses, housing, tax credits, legal services, weatherization assistance, and FEMA assistance.

Published January 3, 2025 by

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[pdf] Access to State-Funded Public Benefits in Delaware for Survivors (Updated January 5, 2025) (+)

This chart describes the federal and when offered state funded public benefits that immigrant crime victims are legally eligible to access. Which benefits a victim can access depends on:
• On the victim’s immigration status or the immigration relief the victim is in the process of applying for;
• Which benefit they are applying for; and
• When they entered the United States.
The chart provides information about benefits eligibility for VAWA self-petitioners, refugees, asylees, T and U visa applicants, children applying for SIJS and DACA, and undocumented victims. The chart covers eligibility for: TANF, Child Care, SNAP (food stamps), WIC, health care, educational grants, loans and in-state tuition, driver’s licenses, housing, tax credits, legal services, weatherization assistance, and FEMA assistance.

Published April 4, 2024 by

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[pdf] Connecticut Public Benefits Screening Chart for Immigrant Survivors and Refugees by Forms of Immigration Relief (updated January 15, 2025) (+)

Connecticut – This public benefits screening chart helps immigrants, refugees, judges, victim advocates and attorneys quickly understand which state and federal public benefits an immigrant or refugee qualifies for in each state. Eligibility varies by state, by immigration or refugee status, and by benefits program. This tool is designed by be used together with NIWAP’s public benefits maps and state public benefits detailed charts. https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/all-state-public-benefits-charts

Published May 9, 2022 by

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[pdf] Why Using an Interpreter is Beneficial to Law Enforcement (August 21, 2016) (+)

This document outlines the benefits to law enforcement officers of identifying LEP persons language access needs at crime scenes and during criminal investigations. These benefits include improving officer and crime scene safety, improving the likelihood of a successful prosecution, and ensuring that officers fully capture helpful statements from victims and witnesses.

Published August 21, 2016 by , ,

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[pdf] U and T Visas for Immigrant Victims of Crime and Trafficking: Best Practices in Responding to, Investigating and Prosecuting Cases Involving Immigrant Crime Victims-including Cases of Domestic and Sexual Violence (Dec. 13, 2023) (PowerPoint) (+)

Webinar Description Immigrant victims of crime are often reluctant to call the police for help or to participate in the criminal justice process. In cases involving domestic and sexual violence, child abuse and human trafficking, the barriers are compounded, as victims often face immigration-related abuse and threats of deportation. This training will provide law enforcement, […]

Published Dec. 13, 2023 by

[pdf] Model DOJ Complaint Form- Sample (2023) (+)

U.S. DOJ, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Complaint Form (2023) – This Sample provides an illustration of how to complete a complaint form regarding law enforcement not using qualified interpreters at the crime scene when responding to a domestic violence incident.

Published 2023 by

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[pdf] Webinar Immigration Protections for Children: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and Help for Trafficking Victims Training Materials (December 7, 2023) (+)

Materials for a webinar sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts discussing the National Judicial Network, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and immigration relief for human trafficking victims. These materials include links to NIWAP’s directory of programs with expertise serving immigrant victims, web library, and how judges and court staff can access technical assistance on issues that arise in cases involving immigrant victims of crime and abuse and human trafficking victims. Materials and tools to identify which immigrant victims can access which public benefits in Pennsylvania are also included.

Published December 7, 2023 by

[pdf] Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Findings Pertaining to State Court Judges (Dec. 7, 2023) (+)

A bench card on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) findings pertaining to state court judges. Written by Meagan Fitzpatrick, Leslye Orloff, and Honorable Joseph L. Fernandes (Philadelphia, PA) for the administrative office of the Pennsylvania Courts. This bench card has been updated to reflect clarifications included in the March 2022 final SIJS regulations and the 2023 Policy Manual Chapter issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Published 12/7/23 by

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[pdf] Training Materials for Victim Advocates and Attorneys (February 23, 2025) (+)

Training materials for family lawyers, prosecutors, and state family, civil and criminal court judges assisting immigrant crime victims Topics include: U visas, T visas, Family Law cases, VAWA Self-Petitions, VAWA Confidentiality, Public Benefits, Best Practices, Language Access, Webinars, Podcasts and more.

Published February 28, 2025 by ,

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[pdf] How Immigration Law and Policies Impact State Courts — When Children and Litigants are Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, or Sexual Assault (NCJFCJ, In-Session -Fall 2023) (+)

This In-Session article discusses immigration policy updates that have occurred in 2021 – 2023 and the impact that what these policies mean for state courts adjudicating a range of family court cases involving immigrant children, immigrant crime victims, and child victims living in mixed immigration status families.

Published Fall 2023 by ,

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[pdf] FAQs for Victims’ Lawyers: The Central Role of Federal Immigration Laws and the Confidentiality Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in Protecting the Safety and Privacy of Immigrant Survivors (January 2023) (+)

The immigration-related remedies for survivors of crime, and the corresponding federal immigration VAWA confidentiality laws, are designed to remove immigration status as a barrier to survivors accessing the help they need. They are also intended to encourage survivors to report to and cooperate with law enforcement and criminal prosecutions. The Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC)1 and the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP)2 developed these FAQs (and a companion tip sheet) to help attorneys understand and navigate the VAWA confidentiality protections in federal immigration law when representing survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking, dating violence, and stalking who are seeking protection from deportation and other immigration relief.

Published January 2023 by ,

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[pdf] The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Tips to Protect the Privacy of Immigrant Survivors (January 2023) (+)

The Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC)1 and the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP)2 developed these tips (and a companion set of FAQs) to help attorneys understand and navigate the VAWA confidentiality protections in federal immigration law. The tips are intended to help you promote the safety, privacy, and healing of survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking, dating violence, and stalking.

Published January 2023 by ,

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[pdf] U Visa Certification and T Visa Declaration Toolkit for Adult Protective Services (APS) (October 19, 2023) (+)

Toolkit focusing on the U-Visa as well as an introduction to other options which may be available to immigrant adults who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other crimes that Adult Protective Services staff encounter. Having an awareness of these options can help you identify the best options available for immigrant victims you encounter.

Published October 19, 2023 by

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