ICE Is Making It Harder for Immigrants to Escape Domestic Violence
The fear of deportation is keeping survivors from getting the help they need
Immigrant women experiencing domestic or sexual violence are increasingly choosing not to report abuse because they fear that reaching out could lead to detention or deportation instead of protection.
According to a 2025 survey of over 170 attorneys and advocates for immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence, 75.6% reported that immigrant survivors have concerns about contacting the police.
Reports have documented multiple cases where women seeking help ended up in ICE custody: a mother and child detained in Austin after police responded to a domestic disturbance call; a woman in Houston who called 911 about abuse by her ex-husband, only for police to contact ICE; and a mother of eight in Sacramento detained after reporting sexual harassment by her ICE-contracted case specialist.
Protections like the Violence Against Women Act were designed to make it safe for survivors to seek help. But new policies, like involving local police in federal immigration actions and enforcing immigration laws at courthouses, have made it harder for survivors to access support and resources. These measures give abusers more control and put entire communities at greater risk.
We can’t sit quietly while ICE forces women to live in fear and keeps them in dangerous situations.
We need to demand accountability for ICE agents and no additional ICE funding in the DHS budget. Join us and help put an end to ICE’s cruelty by contacting your members of Congress today.
🤬. Ice are domestic terrorists!