Domestic Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities
Intimate partner and domestic violence impacts immigrant and refugee communities. Seeking services can often be an overwhelming experience, leaving victims vulnerable to abusive partners and family members.
With an unfamiliarity with the legal system and potential conflicts between their cultural background, primary language and their new surroundings, many feel they cannot leave or disclose the abuse.
Ways in which an abuser may keep an immigrant or refugee from seeking help include:
- Threats of deportation
- Hiding or destroying legal documents such as a passport
- Preventing the victim from learning or speaking English
- Use of racist slurs
- Denying access to education or work
- Refusing to file the necessary paperwork for naturalization, child custody or divorce
Harmony House is inclusive of all people, regardless of background or immigration status, and citizenship is not a prerequisite for emergency shelter or service participation. Harmony House makes every effort to communicate with and support victims who are immigrants or refugees using the language of their choice and in culturally supportive ways.
