Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) confidentiality offers federal immigration law protections enacted to prevent perpetrators from learning about, interfering with, and obtaining information contained in survivors’ victim-based applications for immigration relief (VAWA, Battered Spouse Waiver, U and T visa cases). This resource page is tailored to assist courts, prosecutors, and attorneys on how to respond when offenders seek to discover VAWA confidentiality-protected information in criminal, family, and civil court cases. It includes best practice guides for anticipating, preparing for, and addressing VAWA confidentiality discovery issues to promote victim safety and offender accountability.  It also includes up-to-date VAWA confidentiality case law and DHS policies.

Discovery

Training Materials

• Quick Reference Guide for Judges: VAWA Confidentiality, Discovery, and Admissibility Related Case Law (October 7, 2024)
• How to Argue or Rule on VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Discovery Involving Immigrant Survivors (October 13, 2022)
• VAWA Confidentiality and Discovery Cases (October 18, 2022)
• Discovery and Use of Immigration Protected Information in Court Checklist (2019)
• VAWA Confidentiality and Criminal Cases: How Prosecutors Should Respond to Discovery Attempts for Protected Information (July 24, 2017)
• Quick Reference Guide for Prosecutors: U Visa and VAWA Confidentiality Related Case Law (July 24, 2017)
• Court Rulings Confirm Federal VAWA Confidentiality Protections Bar Discovery of VAWA Confidentiality Protected Information in State Family Court Proceedings (June 17, 2014)
• Court Decision Interprets VAWA Confidentiality Provisions (2008)

Toolkits

• U Visa Certification and T Visa Declaration Toolkit for Federal, State and Local Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates and Other Judicial Officers (June 17, 2021)
• U Visa Certification and T Visa Declaration Toolkit for Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutors (August 30, 2021) (includes Q&A on Discovery)

VAWA Confidentiality and Immigration Protective Order Cases

• State v. Espinosa (August 6, 2024)
• Ortiguerra v. Grand Isle Shipyard (June 7, 2024)
• Gonzalez v. State (May 29, 2024)
• Ramirez v. Marsh & New Mexico Immigrant Law Center v. Leos (May 7, 2024)
• Chavez v. State (November 9, 2023)
• United States v. Warda (September 29, 2023) (CAAF)
• People v. Castaneda-Prado(August 30, 2023)
• People v. Flores (May 23, 2023)
• Walsh v. Unforgettable Coatings, Inc. (August 23, 2022)
• Guillen v. B.J.C.R. LLC (March 31, 2022)
• Molnar v. Margaret W. Wong Assocs. Co. L.P.A. (April 22, 2021)
• Memorandum on People v. Alvarez ( March 15, 2019)
• US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v SOL Mexican Grill LLC (June 11, 2019)
• Washington v. Horning Bros. LLC (May 14, 2018):
• Diaz Silvas v Horning Brothers Order Granting Protective Order (May 14, 2018)
• Cazorla v. Koch Foods of Mississippi – 5th Cir ( February 27, 2017)
• Cazorla v. Koch Foods of Mississippi – 5th Cir (September 27, 2016)
• Guardado v. State (2015)
• People v. Alvarez Alvarez (California, 2014)
• State v. Marroquin-Aldana (2014)
• State v. Buccheri-Bianca (October 30, 2013)
• Camayo v. John Peroulis Sons Sheep Inc. (November 27, 2012)
• EEOC v. Dimare Ruskin Inc. (February 15, 2012):
• Demaj v. Sakaj, 3:09 CV 255 (JGM), (D. Conn. Feb. 14, 2012)
• Hawke vs. U.S. (U.S. District Ct. 2008)
• Avila-Blum v. Casa De Cambio Delgado Inc. (May 16, 2006)
• EEOC v. Bice of Chicago (July 18, 2005)
• EEOC v. First Wireless Group Inc. (November 19, 2004)
• Rivera v NIBCO Inc (April 13, 2004)
• US v. Brown (October 28, 2003)
• US v. Locascio (October 8, 1993)

VAWA Confidentiality Briefs and Motions

• Sample Amicus Curiae Brief VAWA Confidentiality and Family Court Discovery (2011)
• Amicus Curiae Brief of Legal Momentum, Sanctuary for Families, and NIWAP (2012)
• Amicus Curiae Brief EEOC v Koch Foods (October 22, 2015)
• Sample Victim’s Motion in Limine to Strike the Defendants’ Pleadings, Motions, and Advocacy for Pleadings and Motions for Violation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 (2009)
• Sample Motion for Protective Order Addressing VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Family Court Cases (2009)
• Amicus Curiae Brief of Legal Momentum in Hawke v. Department of Homeland Security (2008)

Webinars on VAWA Confidentiality and State Court Discovery

• October 14, 2022 Webinar: What Judges, Attorneys, and Prosecutors Need to Know About How VAWA Confidentiality Impacts Discovery In Cases Involving Immigrant Survivors
• March 15, 2019 Training: Violence Against Women Act Confidentiality and Courthouse Enforcement

VAWA Confidentiality

Bench Cards

• Family Court Bench Card on VAWA Confidentiality (December 3, 2021)
• DHS Enforcement Priorities Information for State Court Judges (April 24, 2013, Updated December 27, 2021)

VAWA Confidentiality Statues, Regulations and Policies

Training Materials

• Three Prongs of VAWA Confidentiality (December 15, 2021)
• Quick Reference: VAWA Confidentiality Protections: Quoting Statutes, Regulations and DHS Policies 3.29.19
• VAWA Confidentiality Protections for Immigrant Crime Victims (March 3, 2017- Update March 8, 2021) (Webpage) 
• Training Tools for Prosecutors on the U Visa, VAWA and Criminal Court Discovery (November 8, 2017 – Update February 2022)
• Chapter 3.2: VAWA Confidentiality and Breaches of Confidentiality
• Chapter 3: VAWA Confidentiality, History, Purpose, DHS Implementation, and Violations of VAWA Confidentiality Protections
• Utilizing VAWA Confidentiality Protections in Family Court Proceedings^** (Winter 2017)
• Protecting Immigrant Victims: VAWA Offers Immigration Protections for Sexual Assault Victims (Delaware Lawyer’s Magazine) (Fall 2018)
• NIWAP Newsletter on VAWA Confidentiality (January 2015)
• NIWAP Newsletter on VAWA Confidentiality (September 2014)

Statute, Regulations, Policies and DHS Publications

• Interlineated VAWA Confidentiality Statute
• USCIS Policy Manual Chapter 7- Privacy and Confidentiality (March 23, 2022)
• U-Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (February 28,2022) (Developed for all certifiers including judges)
• T-Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (October 20,2021) (Developed for all certifiers including judges)
• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Center for Countering Human Trafficking, Continued Presence Resource Guide (July 2021) (Providing VAWA confidentiality protection to trafficking victims receiving continued presence)
• DHS: Privacy  Compliance Review of the Privacy Incidents Affecting Individuals Protected by Section 1367 (February 4, 2019)
• VAWA Confidentiality Complaint Process at DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) (2018)
• VAWA Confidentiality Statutes, Legislative History and Implementing Policy (February 23, 2017)
• Spouses Battered or Subjected to Extreme Cruelty by A, E (3), H or G Visa Holders Are Eligible to Apply for Work Authorization (February 14, 2017) VAWA Confidentiality protections for abused visa holder spouses.
• DHS Disclosure of Section 1367 Information to Law Enforcement Officials For Legitimate Law Enforcement Purposes (June 18, 2016)
• Legislative History of VAWA (94, 00, 05), T and U-Visas, Battered Spouse Waiver, and VAWA Confidentiality (June 17, 2015)
• All DHS VAWA Confidentiality Instruction (November 7, 2013)
• DHS Disclosure of Section 1367 Information to National Security Officials for National Security Purposes Instruction (November 7, 2013)
• DHS Disclosure of Section 1367 Information to National Security Officials for National Security Purposes Directive (November 6, 2013)
• All DHS Directive on VAWA Confidentiality Implementation which included and explains the annual requirement for training taking the FLTEC and DHS developed on line course ‘VAWA Confidentiality and Immigration Relief (November 1, 2013)
• DHS – Delegation of Authority to Issues Guidance and Implement VAWA Confidentiality 8 USC 1367 (September 23, 2013)
• DHS  The Council on Combating Violence Against Women Instruction (March 15, 2013)
• DHS Council on Combating Violence Against Women Directive (March 14, 2013)
• Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintiffs (June 17, 2011)
• DHS Broadcast Code of Admission for VAWA confidentiality protected cases the DHS computerized red flag system for cases that have already been filed (December 21, 2010)
• DHS Civil Rights Civil Liberties Complaint Instructions for VAWA Confidentially Violation Investigations
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security: U Visa Regulations (September 17, 2007)
• U Visa Regulations and Preamble Discussion of VAWA Confidentiality (September 17, 2007)
• ICE and OPLA VAWA Confidentiality Operations Memos (February 1, 2007)
• INA: Section 239 – Initiation of Removal Proceedings and VAWA Confidentiality (2006)
• HR 3402 House Judiciary Report: VAWA Confidentiality Legislative History (September 22, 2005)
• Memorandum: Non-disclosure and Other Prohibitions Relating to Battered Aliens: IIRIRA §384
• Executive Office of Immigration Review EOIR: VAWA Confidentiality Procedures for Immigration Court (1997)

Webinars

• NCJFCJ VAWA Confidentiality and Protections for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence (October 31, 2017)
• VAWA Confidentiality: Understanding the Three Safeguards and Limited Discovery Exceptions When Advocating for Survivors in Family and Criminal State Courts (February 5, 2015)
• VAWA Confidentiality and Protections for Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence (October 31, 2017)

^**If you have difficulty accessing this publication please contact for assistance NIWAP at (202) 274-4457 or info@niwap.org