Articles

My first several weeks at Catholic Charities seemed so busy that I scarcely took time to reflect on the work I was beginning. After nearly two months, I have gained a more intentional and conscious understanding of the people I serve.

One things my experience at Catholic Charities has taught me is how isolated many undocumented people feel from authorities, and the sense of defenselessness that results. Some of the more common cases that Catholic Charities deals with are "U-visa" cases, in which an undocumented immigrant is the victim of crime (usually domestic violence) and is aiding the investigation and prosecution of the defendant, and "VAWA" (Violence Against Women Act) domestic violence cases. In both types of cases, the petitioning victim can be granted conditional residency.

Most undocumented individuals have very few resources and understanding of the legal system, and consequently allow crimes to go unreported. It is not indifference, but fear, that is the reason for such phenomena. Many undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or other undocumented immigrants do not seek help from authorities and remain in abusive relationships because they are not aware of their legal options. They fear losing existing benefits or even being deported. Still, many are accustomed to their places of origin, where domestic violence is generally accepted and would certainly not be something one would report to police. Before my time at Catholic Charities, I often took for granted my sense of security in simply being able to report a crime.

While opinions on how to address immigration reform differ, as a society we cannot forget the humanity of these crucified people. For both moral and practical reasons, we must ensure that undocumented victims of crimes are aware of their options and can seek the basic protection that every person deserves.