Statement of the National Taskforce to End Sexual and Domestic Violence in Opposition to the Administration’s October 2017 Immigration Blueprint

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF)* opposes the Trump Administration’s immigration priorities for Congress, as announced on October 8, 2017.  Already, Administration policy changes have left immigrant survivors of sexual and domestic violence more vulnerable to threats from abusers and more fearful that they will be deported at any moment and separated from their children and communities. Studies show that they are now less likely to call the police for help or go to court to protect themselves and their children from abuse and violence. In this climate, the NTF calls on our nation’s policymakers to work together to uphold their commitment to all survivors – including through the protections of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) – and forge a bipartisan, humane national immigration policy. 

The Administration’s list of requests to Congress would roll back hard-won protections for women and children who have experienced violence both in the United States and abroad. Congress, through bipartisan action, has seen fit to offer pathways to immigration status as a means of protecting these survivors from further harm. The Administration now asks Congress to undo decades of progress toward humane polices that recognize the unique vulnerabilities of women and children who have experienced the trauma of violence and require immigration status to access safety.

Some of the Administration’s requests include:

• Funding a southern border wall, which has been shown to be costly and unhelpful, while likely keeping out women and children fleeing high levels of violence who need and qualify for protection;
• Expanding the inefficient and inhumane expedited removal system to fast-track deportations of even more individuals seeking protection, including children fleeing sexual violence and even death, without a meaningful court hearing;
• Increasing barriers to survivors seeking asylum and fleeing for their lives, even though the standards for asylum and refugee processing are already exceedingly high;
• Penalizing communities that enact community trust policies and adhere to Constitutional principles by coercing increased entanglement between federal immigration enforcement and local law enforcement, thus making it even less likely that immigrant victims and witnesses will reach out to law enforcement and further undermining public safety;
• Undoing a previous settlement agreement entered into by the government in a federal court case that limited the jailing of immigrant children since it was found to be detrimental to their health and well-being; and
• Increasing barriers to legal immigration status for large numbers of applicants, which will unfairly hurt immigrant families and harm America’s economy.

The requests incorrectly describe protections for women and children as exploited “loopholes” instead of attempts by Congress to ensure the safety of those who need it most. A recent survey of more than 700 advocates and attorneys revealed that immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are often afraid to come forward and access help.[1] Immigrant victims are expressing heightened fears and concerns about immigration enforcement, with 78% of advocates and attorneys reporting that victims are describing fear of contacting the police; 75% reporting that victims are afraid of going to court; and 43% reporting that immigrant victims are choosing not to move forward with criminal charges or obtaining protective orders.[2] No legislator willingly works against supporting victims of violence or preventing and ending domestic and sexual assault. We urge Congress to work to craft immigration relief that prevents future abuse and exploitation, promotes public trust, and makes communities safer. 

Congress should reject the White House’s October 2017 immigration principles, and work in a bipartisan manner towards the larger legislative reform of our nation’s immigration laws that is desperately needed to provide a just, common sense, and humane solution to the current crisis. As part of these efforts, Congress must protect and defend DACA recipients who were brought to this country as children and who are now living, working, and raising families in the United States. They should not be used as a bargaining chip to impose immigration policies that undermine protections for other groups of immigrants.

Advocates for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence have reported that DACA and other forms of immigration relief are critical to protecting our communities and helping survivors feel secure and stable so that they can rebuild their lives and be economically self-sufficient.[3]  Safeguarding DACA and other immigration relief will protect individuals from deportation and allow survivors and witnesses of crimes like domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to feel safe to report crimes to police without fear that seeking justice will put them at risk of being deported.

The NTF urges Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017, granting legal status to young people who arrived in the United States before they turned 18, helping protect them from abuse and exploitation, and allowing them the opportunity to live and work in the United States permanently. Congress should reject the White House’s proposals that would roll back decades of work to establish protections for survivors of violence. And it must continue to work in a bipartisan manner to seek a more just and humane immigration system that protects survivors and strengthens families, communities, and the nation.

For more information, please contact Grace Huang, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence at ghuang@api-gbv.org, Archi Pyati, Tahirih Justice Center, at archip@tahirih.org, or Rosie Hidalgo, National Latin@ Network: Casa de Esperanza, at rhidalgo@casadeesperanza.org.

* The NTF is comprised of national, state, tribal, territorial and local leadership organizations and advocates working to end domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

[1] 2017 Advocate and Legal Service Survey Regarding Immigrant Survivors”, available at http://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-Advocate-and-Legal-Service-Survey-Key-Findings.pdf

[2] See, 2017 advocate survey, found at: http://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-Advocate-and-Legal-Service-Survey-Key-Findings.pdf.  See also, New Immigration Crackdowns Creating 'Chilling Effect' On Crime Reporting http://www.npr.org/2017/05/25/529513771/new-immigration-crackdowns-creating-chilling-effect-on-crime-reporting

[3] National Latin@ Network Casa de Esperanza, “Testimonies From the Field: Benefits of DACA for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence,” available at https://nationallatinonetwork.org/images/files/Quote_Sheet_for_Hill_Visits_2.pdf

Contact your Representative on OCTOBER 5 and urge them to oppose H.R.38!

Action Alert: The U.S. House of Representatives wants to give domestic violence offenders the right to stalk and kill their intimate partners across state lines. Protect survivors from gun violence:

Stop H.R. 38!

As our hearts go out to the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas and to their families and friends, we also grieve, on this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, for the approximately 470 women who have been killed this year by abusers with guns.  As we grieve, the House may vote on a bill that would make it terrifyingly easy for abusers to legally carry concealed firearms into other states when stalking their victims (this bill may also be added as an amendment to the SHARE Act – HR. 3668 - another very harmful bill that, among other things, deregulates silencers and aids gun traffickers, or to other legislation).  H.R. 38, Representative Hudson’s (R-NC-08) ‘Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017’ would undercut existing state and local protections for victims of domestic and dating violence -- and replace those protections with the weakest gun laws in the country. It’s a race to the bottom. And survivors of domestic violence will be the losers.

“Concealed carry reciprocity (CCR)” is a complicated name for a law that would make it simple for abusers to threaten and harass -- and kill -- their intimate partners with firearms. H.R. 38 would force every state to accept other states’ concealed carry permits, even if the out-of-state permit was issued to a domestic violence offender who would be prohibited from obtaining such a permit in the travel state.  This is a clear violation of the Constitution’s recognition of states’ rights, and it is dangerous for victims of domestic violence.

Contact your Members of Congress NOW.  Click here to find your Representative.  You can find his/her Twitter handle here (scroll down for sample social media posts; hashtags #DVAM2017, #NoGuns4Abusers, #NoCCR, #NoHR38).  Use our sample scripts below!

Background:

Carrying concealed firearms makes it easier for abusers to go follow their victims without the guns being detected and the abuser apprehended.  Currently, every state has its own concealed carry permitting requirements. Some states’ firearms laws are more protective of victims of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, while other states provide almost no firearms protections for survivors. Under the Constitution, each state has the individual authority to say who can and cannot carry concealed firearms within their borders. Under the Constitution, anyone traveling with a concealed firearm from their state of residence to another state must follow the concealed carry permit laws of the state to which they travel unless the two states have a reciprocity agreement.  Congress is negating protections that make domestic violence victims safer. Why would Congress take away these protections?

●       Survivors often relocate to other states to escape their abusers, sometimes seeking refuge in states that have stricter firearms protections.

●       Many states have stronger laws than the federal government, including prohibiting dating violence and stalking misdemeanants from possessing firearms.

●       Twelve states currently have no requirement that an individual must apply for and obtain a state permit to carry concealed firearms. Anyone in these states, regardless of prior acts of violence, can just pick up a gun, conceal it in their clothing, and go anywhere they want in the state. This could be the standard for the whole country if Congress passes these bills.

●       H.R. 38 would make it easy for domestic violence offenders who are ineligible for a permit in their states of residence to “shop” for states with weak concealed carry permit laws and to avoid being turned down for a concealed carry permit in a state that is more protective of survivors.

●       H.R. 38 has a provision that threatens law enforcement with lawsuits if they try to enforce their own state’s firearms laws that protect victims and survivors. This would punish law enforcement for doing their jobs -- and would put law enforcement officers in danger, as well as survivors.

●       State and federal firearms databases are not well-maintained. They don’t have the records needed to perform an effective background check in many cases. H.R. 38 depends on a fully functioning National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Unless Congress also provides sufficient funding to bring these databases up-to-date, there is no way for law enforcement to make sure domestic violence offenders are not carrying concealed firearms in violation of federal law.

A note about the SHARE Act:

H.R.3668, Representative Jeff Duncan’s (R-SC-3) grandiously entitled ‘The Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act’ (SHARE Act) is another harmful bill that would, among other things, deregulate silencers and weaken requirements for transporting firearms.  As one Congressman said in passing, only criminals would think this was a good idea.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rachel Graber at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence or Rob Valente at the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Phone script: “My name is [your name], I am from [city and organization, if applicable].  I am a constituent, and I oppose H.R. 38, Representative Hudson’s bill that imposes federally-mandated concealed carry reciprocity on my state.  H.R.38 makes it harder for law enforcement to protect victims of domestic violence, puts victims of domestic violence and law enforcement officers at risk of gun violence, is a violation of the Constitution’s guarantee of states’ rights, and makes our communities less safe.  I oppose H.R.38 as a stand-alone bill and/or as an amendment to other legislation and oppose H.R. 3668, the SHARE Act, which puts communities at risk by deregulating silencers and aiding gun traffickers.  I urge [name of Member of Congress] to oppose them as well.”

Sample Email:

Dear Representative [Representative’s name],

My name is [your name], and I am a constituent from [your location and, if applicable, organization].  I strongly urge you to oppose H.R.38, which could have fatal consequences for victims and survivors of domestic violence.  H.R. 38,  Representative Hudson’s federally mandated concealed carry reciprocity bill, would undercut existing state and local protections for victims of domestic and dating violence -- and would replace those protections with the weakest gun laws in the country!  Do you want to make it easier for domestic abusers to get guns and to terrorize, stalk, and kill their victims?

Currently, every state has its own concealed carry permitting requirements. Some states’ firearms laws are more protective of victims of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, while other states provide almost no firearms protections for survivors. Under the Constitution, each state has the individual authority to say who can and cannot carry concealed firearms within their borders. Under the Constitution, anyone traveling with a concealed firearm from their state of residence to another state must follow the concealed carry permit laws of the state to which they travel unless the two states have a reciprocity agreement.  This makes victims of domestic violence safer. Why would you support legislation to take away these protections?

H.R. 38 would force every state to accept other states’ concealed carry permits, even if the out-of-state concealed carry permit was issued to a domestic violence offender who would be prohibited from obtaining such a permit in the travel state.  This is a clear violation of the Constitution’s recognition of states’ rights, and it is dangerous for victims of domestic violence.

●       Survivors often relocate to other states to escape their abusers, sometimes seeking refuge in states that have stronger firearms protections.

●       Many states have stronger laws than the federal government, including prohibiting dating violence and stalking misdemeanants from possessing firearms and/or from carrying loaded, concealed guns in public.

●       Twelve states currently have no requirement that an individual must apply for and obtain a state permit to carry concealed firearms. Anyone in these states, regardless of prior acts of violence, can just pick up a gun, conceal it in their clothing, and go anywhere they want in the state. This could be the standard for the whole country if Congress passes these bills.

●       H.R. 38 would make it easy for domestic violence offenders who are ineligible for a permit in their states of residence to “shop” for states with weak concealed carry permit laws and to avoid being turned down for a concealed carry permit in a state that is more protective of survivors.

●       H.R. 38 has a provision that threatens law enforcement with lawsuits if they try to enforce their own state’s firearms laws that protect victims and survivors. This would punish law enforcement for doing their jobs -- and would put law enforcement officers in danger, as well as survivors.

●       State and federal firearms databases are not well-maintained or up-to-date. They don’t have the records needed to perform effective background checks in many cases. H.R. 38 depends on a fully functioning National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Unless Congress also provides sufficient funding to bring these databases up-to-date, there is no way for law enforcement to make sure domestic violence offenders are not carrying concealed firearms in violation of federal law.

For all of these reasons, I urge you to OPPOSE H.R.38 as a stand-alone bill and/or as an amendment to other legislation and to oppose H.R. 3668, the SHARE Act, which puts communities at risk by deregulating silencers and aiding gun traffickers.  The lives of women, children, men and law enforcement rest in your hands. 

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Sample Tweet 1: @[Legislator’s Twitter handle] Fed-mandated concealed carry reciprocity harms victims of DV & endangers law enforcement. #DVAM2017 #NoGuns4Abusers #NoHR38

Sample Tweet 2: @[Legislator’s Twitter handle] The SHARE Act, deregulating silencers & aiding gun traffickers, harms victims of DV #DVAM2017 #NoGuns4Abusers #NoHR3668

Sample Facebook Post:  As a constituent, I ask you to oppose federally-mandated concealed carry reciprocity.   It makes it harder for law enforcement to protect victims of domestic violence, puts victims of domestic violence and law enforcement officers at risk of gun violence, is a violation of the Constitution’s guarantee of states’ rights, and makes our communities less safe.

NTF Denounces Shameful Rollback of Title IX by the Education Department

Yesterday, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) stood with survivors of sexual assault and dating violence outside the Antonin Scalia Law School as the U.S. Department of Education announced its shameful intention to roll back protections for survivors under Title IX of Education Amendments Act of 1972. The exclusion of survivors from the event, as well as the choice of venue, lead to the regrettable conclusion that the vital role the federal government has played in ending sexual violence in educational institutions and ensuring effective protection against discriminatory practices and policies that deny equal access to education is no more.  Yesterday's statements by Secretary DeVos send the wrong message to students who look to the Department of Education to have their backs when they are the victims of sexual harassment and violence. This also sends the wrong message to public schools, colleges and universities about their responsibility to enforce Title IX and other civil rights statutes. To be clear, however, Title IX remains the law of the land. 

The NTF calls upon Congress to use its oversight authority to ensure that the Departments of Education and Justice continue to fulfill their sworn obligations to safeguard the civil rights of survivors of violence, to ensure that no one is subjected to dating or sexual violence, harassment, discrimination, or denied equitable access to education in a federally funded institution based on their sex, gender identity, religion, race, language proficiency, disability or any other protected category.  

We stand ready to work with Congress on a bi-partisan basis --as we always have --to address the needs and concerns of survivors of violence. And we stand committed to the philosophy that a process that does not center the needs of all survivors – women and men, immigrant, LGBTQIA, people of color, and/or disabled -- and respect their voices is no process at all.

For more information, contact Lisalyn Jacobs

National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence condemns the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville and calls for unified efforts to end racism, abuse, and oppression

Washington, D.C. — The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) denounces the acts of hatred, violence, terrorism and bigotry carried out by white supremacy and neo-Nazi organizations and sympathizers who assembled in Charlottesville, Virginia this past weekend. The NTF is comprised of national, state, tribal, territorial and local leadership organizations and advocates working to end domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

The actions of these hate groups make clear that their vision for the United States includes enshrining white male dominance over people of color and women, contempt and hatred for non-Christian religions, mass intimidation through the brandishing of weapons, and the invoking of symbols associated with racial terror. Having a permit did nothing to change that reality or to legitimize their dangerous ideology. Furthermore, when James Fields, a neo-Nazi who stood alongside other white supremacists extolling hatred earlier in the day, later rammed his car into a crowd of peaceful protesters, injuring many and killing Heather Heyer, the response from leaders of the white supremacist movement illustrated their rank misogyny and echoed the victim blaming that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault encounter every day.

From our decades of work to end gender-based violence and oppression, we recognize that the recent visible demonstrations of racism, bigotry, and white supremacist organizing are just the latest manifestations of our country’s long and complex history of individual and institutional racism. Additionally, we recognize that the impact of racism and oppression is not limited to conduct carried out by extremists.

We are appalled by the moral failure of the President in responding to these events and are deeply concerned that the rhetoric and actions of this Administration have further emboldened the conduct of white supremacists in a way that puts many individuals and communities in danger, and risks undermining the core values to which our nation must aspire. We call on Congress, political leaders at the state and local level, and the President of the United States to exert the moral leadership necessary at this critical juncture in our nation’s history to clearly denounce the actions of the KKK, neo-Nazi organizations, and white supremacist groups.  

It is extremely dangerous when our political leaders use rationalizations to excuse the conduct of neo-Nazis and white supremacists who espouse dominance, hatred and violence toward Black communities, Jewish communities, immigrant communities, and other specific groups of people whom they consider to be inferior. Inevitably, this kind of hateful rhetoric is an incitement to violence.

The work of ending domestic violence and sexual assault is, at its core, an effort to end the harm caused when one person exerts dominance over someone else through tactics of abuse and control. However, with the passage of time it has become more evident that incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault do not occur in a vacuum, and that efforts to prevent and end gender-based violence require a larger societal commitment to end abuse and oppression in all its forms, and particularly at the intersections. Additionally, studies show that mass killers and those who commit acts of terrorism are often terrorists in their own homes and relationships long before unleashing their terror on the outside world.

The quest to end domestic violence and sexual assault is inextricably linked with the quest to end racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, xenophobia, religious bigotry toward Jewish and Muslim communities, and other forms of oppression toward marginalized communities, including immigrant and Native American communities. It also requires acknowledging and addressing the historical trauma experienced by these communities, as well as the detrimental impact and trauma caused by current experiences of racism and other forms of oppression. Finally, it requires both state and federal governments to thoroughly examine their role in the oppression of these marginalized communities, and to commit to meaningful and enduring reforms.

Moreover, as a society we must recognize that to support Confederate statues as memorials in important shared public spaces is to literally choose to “put on a pedestal” those who decided to go to war against the United States in their efforts to maintain the right to subjugate, abuse and enslave Black communities for their own gain and to benefit the economic foundation upon which this country was built. As a society, it is time to acknowledge that those are not the individuals we need to continue to glorify, especially if we want to move our nation towards its aspirational goals of equality and justice. We are not saying that this history should be erased or ignored, quite the contrary—it is through continuing to learn the lessons from history that we can support the values and the principles that we must build on.

Inevitably, ending racism and other forms of dominance and oppression toward marginalized communities will come when everyone, particularly those in dominant groups, commit to doing the hard work of addressing implicit and explicit bias at the individual and organizational level, as well as commit to dismantling systemic racism and oppression at the local, state, and national level.

We acknowledge that the movement to end domestic and sexual violence has much more work to do to live up to these ideals.  We call on all people involved in the movement to actively engage in anti-racism efforts, to show up and have the difficult and necessary conversations, to acknowledge the historical trauma and present-day impact of white supremacy and other forms of bigotry, and to unify in our efforts to end all forms of abuse and oppression.  In so doing, we stand together with other activists and organizations to continue to work passionately for gender, racial, economic, and social justice for ALL.

It is the obligation of every person who wishes to live in a free, pluralistic, and civil society to condemn neo-Nazis’ reprehensible speech and actions. More than this, we must engage our neighbors, families, friends, political representatives, and community members in dialogue about how we as a society can:

• Build healthy, safe, and respectful relationships across differences in our families and communities and interrupt racism and oppression as active bystanders in our daily lives;
• Acknowledge the United States’ devastating history of oppression, which has accrued significant economic benefits for some off of the labor and pain of others, while also striving to fulfill the aspirations of our nation to extend equal rights to each person, uphold human rights, and make peaceful democracy vital and real;
• Continue working for equity and economic and social justice so that all people have access to what they need, not only to survive but to thrive in their lives;
• Create spaces in which people of varied religions, races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, and abilities, can come together in our common humanity and strive together for the common good and universal human dignity; and

Find additional ways to stand up for civil and human rights, such as utilizing these action steps from The Leadership Conference.
 

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Groups Warn that House-Passed Health Bill Would Harm Victims of Domestic and Sexual assault, Urge Senate to Reject the AHCA

As national organizations working to end domestic violence and sexual assault in the United States, we are very disappointed that the House of Representatives passed a bill that puts the lives, safety and health of victims at risk.

Members of Congress who voted for this bill voted against some of our nation’s most vulnerable women and children. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) would prevent many domestic violence and sexual assault victims from getting the medical and behavioral health services they need because it allows states to waive essential health benefits, which mandate coverage for mental health care and other critically important services. It would make buying insurance more expensive and increase out-of-pocket expenses, which would push coverage out of reach entirely for some middle- and low-income victims. And it would give abusers another tool with which to threaten and control their families because its continuous coverage requirement means coverage would be unaffordable for people who lose their employer-sponsored health coverage.

We are particularly concerned this bill will return us to the days when rape or domestic violence could cause higher premiums, making victims uninsurable. We must not be fooled by the last minute change ostensibly protecting people with pre-existing conditions. By allowing individual insurers to decide how much to charge, insurance companies may simply price people right out of care with outrageous premiums.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of four American women have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime, with 70 percent of victims first experiencing abuse before the age of 25. Nearly 23 million women have been the victim of rape or attempted rate in their lifetime, with 40 percent experiencing the assault before the age of 18.   

Finally, while providing significant tax cuts for the wealthy, this bill would phase out federal funding for the Medicaid expansion, affecting millions of low income people currently enrolled under the expansion, and would significantly reduce overall federal funding for Medicaid by turning it into a block grant program.

We urge the Senate to reject this attempt to repeal the protections and services that are so critical to domestic and sexual assault victims and their families.

###

Letter to the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security to Protect Access to Safety and Justice for Immigrant Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

The National Taskforce to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF), comprised of national leadership organizations advocating on behalf of sexual and domestic violence survivors and representing thousands of allied organizations and advocates, condemns recent statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seriously undermine important protections for immigrant victims of gender-based violence and that curtail their ability to seek safety through the courts.  We call on DHS to recognize that immigrant survivors deserve access to safety and justice, and we request that DHS meet with representatives of our member organizations to discuss ways to ensure that ICE policies and procedures do not deter survivors of domestic and sexual violence from accessing critical protections.  

We are very concerned that the recent letter issued by DHS Secretary Kelly and Attorney General Sessions to the Chief Justice of California, dated March 29, 2017,[1] a recent statement by a DHS spokesman to the Washington Post[2] regarding ICE’s courthouse enforcement policies, and confirmation on April 5 by Secretary Kelly during Senate testimony that DHS will apprehend immigrant victims of crime at courthouses, fail to take into consideration the detrimental impact of these policies on immigrant victims and witnesses. They also fail to take into consideration special remedies and confidentiality protections for immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking created by Congress under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which were both reauthorized in a bipartisan fashion by Congress in 2013. Given the breadth of the current ICE enforcement priorities, there will be victims detained and removed who are eligible for immigration relief. DHS should not allow survivors to be detained or removed before they are able to obtain immigration protections afforded them by Congress.  

Furthermore, we are deeply concerned that enforcement activities conducted at places where victims and witnesses seek assistance will undermine public safety for all by discouraging others from seeking protection and participating in criminal processes to hold perpetrators accountable. In the past several weeks, police chiefs and prosecutors have already noted steep  reductions in the reporting of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes to law enforcement.[3]

When ICE enforcement increased significantly after 2007, including through the expansion of the Secure Communities and 287(g) programs, it had a detrimental impact on numerous victims and witnesses and ICE eventually took steps to address this situation. ICE issued a policy memorandum, dated June 17, 2011, entitled “Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses and Plaintiffs” (Victim Witness Memo).[4] This memorandum reminds ICE officials of existing protections under VAWA and under the TVPA and states that “Absent special circumstances or aggravating factors, it is against ICE policy to initiate removal proceedings against an individual known to be the immediate victim or witness to a crime.” Furthermore, the Victim Witness Memo states:

“To avoid deterring individuals from reporting crimes and from pursuing actions

to protect their civil rights, ICE officers, special agents, and attorneys are reminded to

exercise all appropriate discretion on a case-by-case basis when making detention

and enforcement decisions in the cases of victims of crime…”[5]

ICE’s recent positions on protections and processes for immigrant survivors have been inconsistent and confusing and makes our communities and survivors less safe. In recent media articles highlighting growing fears among immigrant victims to seek protection, ICE indicated that the prior guidance about prosecutorial discretion for victims remains in effect.[6] However, subsequent statements from a different DHS spokesperson, David Lapan, on April 4, 2017, as well as the testimony of the DHS Secretary in a Senate hearing before the Homeland Security Committee on April 5, 2017, suggest otherwise.

The confusion regarding the status of existing ICE processes and procedures not only impacts the ability of our organizations to provide accurate information to survivors who are seeking assistance, but also affects survivors directly. If victims feel the court is an unsafe place for them to seek protection out of fear of deportation, they will choose not to report sexual assault or choose to stay with abusive partners, where they and their children endure increased violence.

On March 8, 2017, over 560 national, state, and local organizations signed a letter sent to Secretary Kelly and Acting ICE Director Homan expressing concerns about the detrimental impact of recent DHS policy changes on immigrant victims.[7] The NTF calls on Secretary Kelly and Acting Director Homan to:

·         Meet with representatives of our member organizations to discuss the intent of VAWA to help immigrant victims access safety and justice and to discuss the impact of ICE’s practices on survivors of violence; and

·         Provide clear guidance, both to the public and to ICE officials nationwide, that the 2011 ICE Victim Witness Memo remains operational and should be  implemented by ICE officials when interacting with victims and witnesses. 

We also call on the Administration and Congressional leaders to stand up for immigrant victims of domestic and sexual violence and oppose ICE’s role in undermining VAWA and TVPA protections and reducing the ability of immigrant victims to seek safety.

For more information, please contact Grace Huang, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, at ghuang@api-gbv.org ; Rosie Hidalgo, Casa De Esperanza: National Latin@ Network, at rhidalgo@casadeesperanza.org ; or Archi Pyati, Tahirih Justice Center at ArchiP@tahirih.org.

[1] Letter from Secretary Kelly and Attoney General Sessions to Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, March 29, 2017, found at https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3533530/Attorney-General-and-Homeland-Security-Secretary.pdf

[2] DHS spokesman David Lapan failed to acknowledge any special considerations when ICE agents arrest a victim or witness and said tha that the factors that could lead ICE agents to arrest a victim or witness “could be any number of things – again, the categories that we’ve talked about that make them subject to arrest or potential removal still apply to somebody who might him or herself be a victim.”  See Devlin Barrett, “DHS: Immigration agents may arrest crime victims, witnesses at courthouses”  Washington Post. April 4, 2017. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dhs-immigration-agents-may-arrest-crime-victims-witnesses-at-courthouses/2017/04/04/3956e6d8-196d-11e7-9887-1a5314b56a08_story.html

[3] Heidi Glenn, “Fear Of Deportation Spurs 4 Women To Drop Domestic Abuse Cases In Denver” NPR. March 21, 2017. Available at: http://www.npr.org/2017/03/21/520841332/fear-of-deportation-spurs-4-women-to-drop-domestic-abuse-cases-in-denver.    See also James Queally,“Latinos are reporting fewer sexual assaults amid a climate of fear in immigrant communities, LAPD says” Los Angeles Times March 21, 2017. Available at: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-immigrant-crime-reporting-drops-20170321-story.html  See also Brooke A. Lewis, “HPD Chief Announces Decrease in Hispanics Reporting Rape and Violent Crime Compared toLast Year.” Houston Chronicle. April 6, 2017. Available at: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/HPD-chief-announces-decrease-in-Hispanics-11053829.php

[4] Memorandum from John Morton, Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintiffs,” 10076.1 (June 17, 2011). Available at: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/secure-communities/pdf/domestic-violence.pdf

[5] Id at 2.

[6] Tyler Kingkade, “Domestic Abuse Victims Aren’t Coming Forward Because They’re Scared Of Being Deported” Buzzfeed. March 16, 2017. Available at: https://www.buzzfeed.com/tylerkingkade/under-trump-domestic-abuse-victims-are-more-afraid-of-being?utm_term=.yuR99PpQ0M#.kjPnnMzP7y “(reporting that an ICE official “…said that the 2011 directive that advises immigration officers to use discretion when dealing with abuse victims remains in effect. ‘Particular attention is paid to victims of domestic violence, human trafficking or other serious crimes,’ Jennifer D. Elzea, acting press secretary for ICE, told BuzzFeed News in a statement.”) See also Nora Caplan-Brickler. “I Wish I Never Called the Police” Slate.  March 19, 2017. Available at: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2017/03/u_visas_gave_a_safe_path_to_citizenship_to_victims_of_abuse_under_trump.html (reporting that “ICE spokeswoman Danielle Bennett told me that the 2011 policy remains in effect and that ICE ‘will take into consideration if an individual is the immediate victim or witness to a crime, in determining whether to take enforcement action.’” 

[7] See March 8, 2017 Sign on Letter to DHS Secretary John Kelly and Acting ICE Director Thomas HomanAvailable at: http://www.asistahelp.org/documents/news/Sign_on_Letter_to_DHS_and_ICEProtec_AD96AD5C060E1.pdf

Statement on Proposals Seeking to Undermine Community Trust Policies

As the Steering Committee of the National Taskforce to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF), comprising national leadership organizations advocating on behalf of sexual and domestic violence victims and women’s rights, we represent hundreds of organizations across the country dedicated to ensuring all survivors of violence receive the protections they deserve. For this reason, we write to express our deep concerns about the potential impact that proposals that seek to undermine community trust policies will have. Proposals that weaken community trust policies will be dangerous for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and trafficking, and in particular, for immigrant victims, and communities at large.

Undermining policies that local jurisdictions have determined are constitutionally sound and appropriate for their respective communities decreases the ability of law enforcement agencies to respond to violent crimes and assist all victims of crime, U.S. Citizens and immigrants alike. As recognized in the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), law enforcement plays a critical role in our coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence.

Perpetrators use fear of deportation as abuse. Local policies that minimize intertwining of local law enforcement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) help bring the most vulnerable victims out of the shadows by creating trust between law enforcement and the immigrant community, which in turn help protect entire communities.[1]  Abusers and traffickers use the fear of deportation of their victims as a tool to silence and trap them. Not only are the individual victims harmed, but their fear of law enforcement leads many to abstain from reporting violent perpetrators or coming forward and, as a result, dangerous criminals are not identified and go unpunished.

Community trust policies are critical tools for increasing community safety. Laws that seek to intertwine the immigration and law enforcement systems will undermine the Congressional purpose of protections enacted under VAWA and will have the chilling effect of pushing immigrant victims into the shadows and allow criminals to walk on our streets. As VAWA recognizes, immigrant victims of violent crimes often do not contact law enforcement due to fear that they will be deported. According to a study conducted by the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Latin@ Network: Casa de Esperanza, 45% of the foreign-born callers expressed fear of calling and/or seeking help from the police or courts.[2]  Furthermore, 12% of US-Born callers expressed fear of seeking help due to the current wave of anti-immigrant policies. Immigrants are already afraid of contacting the police and these policies to further intertwine immigration and law enforcement systems will only exacerbate this fear.  The result is that perpetrators will be able to continue to harm others, both immigrant and U.S. Citizen victims alike.

Recent Immigration Executive Orders are Undermining Victim Protections in our Communities Since January, victim advocates are describing the immense fear expressed by immigrant victims and their reluctance to reach out for help from police. Advocates at domestic violence programs in jurisdictions with large undocumented populations are reporting a “large drop in the number of women coming in for services,” indicating victims are not pursuing criminal charges against abusers or moving into domestic violence shelters.[3] Advocacy programs are reporting significant increases in calls from immigrant victims, many of whom are seeking information on the advisability of working with law enforcement and prosecution given their fear of deportation in light of the Executive Orders. Other advocates are reporting a drop in the number of victims seeking accompaniment to work with police and seek protection orders. Thousands of victim advocates nationwide are reporting that they are uncertain how to best advise immigrant survivors about what will happen if they call the police or go to court.

Recent reports from law enforcement officials confirm this widespread fear and uncertainty. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Charlie Beck has reported that his city is already seeing evidence of this increased fear: Reports of sexual assault have dropped by 25 percent and domestic violence by 10 percent among the Latino population since the beginning of the year.[4] In Denver, Colorado, City Attorney Kristin Bronson reported that since the issuance of the interior enforcement Executive Order, four domestic-violence victims have declined to pursue charges against their abusers out of fear of  deportation.[5] The Travis County, Texas District Attorney similarly reported that at least one domestic violence case there recently stalled because the victim declined to press charges out of fear of deportation.[6]   When victims are afraid to come forward, abusers and perpetrators will be able to continue to harm victims with impunity and our entire communities are affected.

For these reasons, we urge you to affirm the intent and spirit of VAWA by supporting strong relationships between law enforcement and immigrant communities, which is critical for public safety in general, and particularly essential for domestic and sexual violence victims. Thank you very much for your efforts to protect and support immigrant of domestic violence and sexual assault.

For more information, please contact Grace Huang, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence at ghuang@api-gbv.org, or Rosie Hidalgo, National Latin@ Network: Casa de Esperanza, at rhidalgo@casadeesperanza.org.

Sincerely,

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence

[1] A study conducted by the University of Illinois- Chicago found that increased involvement of local police and immigration enforcement eroded trust between the police and immigrants, undocumented and documented. 45% of documented immigrants were less likely to report a crime while 70% of undocumented immigrants responded similarly. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/07/sanctuary-cities-public-safety-kate-steinle-san-francisco.
See also, http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/01/29/512002076/why-sanctuary-cities-are-safer.

[2] http://www.nationallatinonetwork.org/images/files/HotlineReport_2_2015_Final.pdf; http://nomore.org/nomas/ http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7112130?

[3] Tyler Kingkade, Trump Deportation Vow Is Scaring Domestic Abuse Victims From Coming Forward, Buzzfeed News (Mar. 16, 2017), http://bzfd.it/2nNRX9L.

[4]James Queally, Latinos are reporting fewer sexual assaults amid a climate of fear in immigrant communities, LAPD says, L.A. Times (Mar. 21, 2017), http://lat.ms/2nPwdva.    

[5] Mark Joseph Stern, Bad for Undocumented Immigrants, a Gift to Domestic Abusers, Slate.com (Mar. 8, 2017), http://slate.me/2mZlJvS. 

[6] Nora Caplan-Bricker, I Wish I’d Never Called the Police, Slate.com (Mar. 19, 2017), http://slate.me/2mYrYgC.

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Condemns the Detention of an Immigrant Transgender Victim of Domestic Violence in El Paso, and Calls for Her Immediate Release

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (“NTF”), comprised of national leadership organizations advocating on behalf of sexual and domestic violence victims and women’s rights, including immigrant and LGBTQ organizations, strongly condemns the recent detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers of an immigrant transgender woman and victim of domestic violence who was in court seeking a protection order from her abusive partner in El Paso, Texas. This was made worse by the fact that, according to news reports of the incident, ICE officers appear to have been tipped off to her whereabouts by her abuser. This arrest sets a dangerous precedent and creates a chilling effect for all immigrant survivors of sexual and domestic violence, further marginalizing them as they consider reaching out to law enforcement or the courts to seek help.

For transgender women, who experience disproportionately higher rates of domestic violence, and often experience discrimination and violence when attempting to access services, this injustice is life-threatening. Transgender women too often experience sexual violence, maltreatment, and other forms of violence while in detention facilities. Because of these realities, this arrest and detainment is an utterly deplorable and harmful response to her request for help.

Perpetrators of domestic violence use a wide range of abusive behaviors to try to control their partners and prevent them from seeking help. In the case of immigrant and undocumented survivors, abusers often exploit their immigration status as a tool of control, threatening to report them to ICE, to have them deported, and to separate them from their children. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), originally passed in 1994 and most recently reauthorized in 2013, recognizes the acute challenges faced by immigrant and undocumented survivors and provides important protections for them to come forward to be able to seek safety and to hold perpetrators accountable. This includes VAWA provisions to protect the confidentiality of immigrant victims and prevent ICE from engaging in enforcement actions in sensitive locations, such as a courthouse where a victim is seeking an order of protection, and to prevent them from doing so based on information furnished by an abuser. These provisions recognize that abusers leverage victims’ fear of ICE to prevent victims from seeking help, and seek to prevent ICE from being a tool of abuse. The most recent re-authorization of VAWA, also included nondiscrimination protections for LGBT survivors.

The NTF is gravely concerned that the case in El Paso will have a chilling impact on immigrant survivors of violence, forcing them to stay with abusive partners and endure increased violence out of fear of deportation. Furthermore, recent Executive Orders calling for increased law enforcement involvement in deportation efforts will further drive immigrant victims and witnesses into the shadows. This only reinforces the power dynamic of abusers and undermines public safety.

The NTF calls on Congressional leaders to stand up for immigrant victims of domestic and sexual violence and condemn ICE’s unconscionable role in undermining VAWA protections and reducing the ability of immigrant victims to seek safety.

For more information, please contact Grace Huang, Asian Pacific Institute on
Gender-Based Violence, at ghuang@api-gbv.org, Rosie Hidalgo, Casa De Esperanza,
at rhidalgo@casadeesperanza.org, or Terra Slavin, Los Angeles LGBT Center, at
tslavin@lalgbtcenter.org

Statement of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence in Opposition to the January 2017 Executive Immigration Actions

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (“NTF”), comprised of national leadership organizations advocating on behalf of sexual and domestic violence victims and women’s rights, strongly opposes President Trump’s January executive orders relating to immigrants and refugees. These executive orders endanger the safety of victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking, their families, and communities at large, further isolate victims, and erect barriers to established legal protections for victims.

Limiting Refugee Admissions: Barring Refugees and Visa Holders Based on Country of
Origin or Religion Will Leave Those Fleeing Gender-Based Violence Without Protection

The executive order suspending and limiting refugee admissions blocks countless women and
children from obtaining the refuge they need to avoid and escape violence, including trafficking, rape, and other forms of gender-based violence. The order claims that one aim of barring refugees and individuals from majority-Muslim nations is to reduce violence against women. We object to this counterproductive claim, as the order actually harms those that it professes to protect. During conflict, when women and children attempt to remain in their country or settle in refugee camps, they are particularly vulnerable to sexual assault, trafficking, and unwanted pregnancies. For example, a significant percentage of Syrian refugees are women fleeing with their children due to violence perpetrated against them. It is well documented that at the hands of ISIS, women and children have suffered from widespread gender-based violence, including kidnapping, systematic rape, enslavement, trafficking, stoning, beheading, and sexual harassment and assault.

Furthermore, targeting seven designated Muslim-majority countries by denying entry for
individuals from Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Sudan not only harms those left
stranded outside the U.S., it also sends the message that victims, including U.S. citizens and their children with backgrounds from Muslim-majority countries do not merit protection from abuse. We are concerned that the executive order attempts to exclude a variety of people on the basis of their religious beliefs in order to legitimize the ban on the admission of Muslim people. We denounce any and all attempts to pit groups against each other on the basis of race, sex, religious beliefs, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Interior Enforcement: The Executive Orders Undermine Critical Tools for Community Safety
and Threaten Access to Vital Services

Punishing jurisdictions that provide “sanctuary” to immigrants is short-sighted and ineffective.
The order’s demand that local police engage in immigration enforcement activities undermines
community trust and will force vulnerable victims deeper into the shadows. Most violent and
property crimes in the U.S. are committed by native-born citizens — not immigrants. Immigrant
victims already fear contacting the police, and this order only exacerbates this fear. Abusers and traffickers use their victims’ fear of deportation—their own, their children’s or other family
members’—as a tool to silence and trap them. As a result, perpetrators will be able to continue to harm others, both immigrant and U.S. Citizen victims alike.

Additionally, withholding funds to sanctuary cities will cut off vital programs and services that
support the survival and health of our most vulnerable populations, U.S Citizens and immigrants alike, including: people who are homeless, people with mental illness, people living with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic and sexual violence, and others. The order will jeopardize
victims; is not grounded in evidence; will jeopardize victims of sexual and domestic violence;
and will undermine basic services like housing, health care, education, and other critical services that support the well-being of our broader communities.

Interior Enforcement: The Order’s Enforcement Priorities Will Harm Victims of Trafficking,
Sexual Assault, and Domestic Violence

The executive order directing that fines and penalties be collected from those facilitating the
presence of those who are unlawfully present will potentially put victims at risk by discouraging humanitarian assistance to those who have been harmed. The order is so broad that providing shelter or transportation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking may subject victim services providers to penalty. In addition, prioritizing the removal of those who have not even been convicted of a crime will jeopardize the safety of victims who have not had the opportunity for the court system to evaluate and rule on mitigating or exonerating circumstances. Immigrant victims, who are vulnerable, due to language and cultural barriers, to being arrested and prosecuted for crimes directly connected to their victimization will be prioritized for deportation before they can access services and established protections, e.g., legal protections under the Violence Against Women Act or other humanitarian immigration relief.

Interior Enforcement: Weakening Privacy Act Protections Will Endanger Victims

Victims who are seeking immigration relief to establish their independence from their
perpetrators face heightened danger from their perpetrators. The executive order directs federal agencies to exclude immigrants from the protections of the Privacy Act, which will jeopardize the confidentiality of victims of sexual and domestic violence and human trafficking and expose them to increased risk of harm from their perpetrators.

Border Security: Rescinding Parole Authority Will Harm Victims

Due to lengthy processing times for immigration protections for victims under the Violence
Against Women Act, victims and their children often face several-year long waits for
reunification. Eliminating uniform policies and procedures that allow dependents or parents to be paroled into the United States for reunification while victims’ cases are processed exacerbates trauma and exposes family members to harm abroad.

Pending Executive Actions

The NTF opposes any actions that will reduce access to protections and critical supports for
immigrants seeking safety or in the United States. Proposals rescinding Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA), rescinding access to employment authorization for spouses of nonimmigrant visa-holders, and limiting access to economic supports such as means-tested public benefits will increase the vulnerability of hundreds of thousands of individuals to abuse and exploitation. Abusive partners, opportunistic predators, and manipulative employers often target undocumented individuals for exploitation, as they know threats to have them deported will help keep victims silent. For those who do have legal immigration status, including those who are dependent on their spouses’ non-immigrant visas, access to economic supports is often critical to escape and recover from abuse. Increasing barriers to those economic supports, including the disqualification for employment authorization, or requiring reimbursement from abusive sponsors, will keep victims trapped without recourse.

For more information, please contact:
Grace Huang, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, at ghuang@api-gbv.org
Qudsia Raja, National Domestic Violence Hotline, qraja@ndvh.org or
Terri Poore, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, terri@endsexualviolence.org.

Action Alert: Urge Your Senators to Oppose Jeff Sessions' Confirmation as Attorney General

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), President-elect Trump's nominee for Attorney General, had the opportunity last week to appear in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to convince the Committee and the American people that he can be trusted to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer.  

He failed.  

Senator Sessions failed to convince us that he will enforce the law for all victims, he failed to convince us that he will defend ALL of VAWA, and he failed to convince us that he will protect marginalized communities -- disqualifying him from the position of the nation's top law enforcement official.  

Although, after repeated questions from Senator Leahy, Senator Sessions admitted that grabbing women's genitalia without their consent is sexual assault, he failed to convince us that he understood the consequences of his previous statement to the contrary.  When asked specifically about President-elect Trump's self-described actions, Senator Sessions' response that "the President is subject to certain lawful restrictions" was wholly inadequate.  Sexual assault is far more serious than a transgression of an unspecified "lawful restriction."  It is a crime, pure and simple!  

What You Can Do About It

ACT NOW! THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARINGS WILL VOTE SOON, WITH A VOTE IN THE FULL SENATE TO FOLLOW SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

Call your Senators and urge them to vote against Senator Sessions' confirmation!  

Tell them: 

• Senator Sessions is not qualified to be our top legal advocate for victims

• He did not tell the Judiciary Committee he would enforce the law for all victims. His past comments suggesting that women and LGBT persons do not experience enough discrimination to warrant protection under the law suggests that his enforcement may be selective.

• Senator Sessions said during the hearing, in response to Senator Leahy's explanation of the high rates of victimization on tribal lands, that the provisions recognizing tribal jurisdiction "should not have been attached to VAWA. As to enforcing that part of VAWA, Senator Sessions said, "I didn't support that provision. I would have to make a legal decision as to how that provision works." When asked if he would defend tribal jurisdiction in court, he replied that he would "defend the statute if it's reasonably defensible." His answer makes it clear that he would not commit to protect Native victims of domestic and sexual violence. 
   
• Senator Sessions said in the past that he didn't see that the LGBT population as experiencing discrimination, and so he refused to support the Hate Crimes Act. When asked why he voted against the Hate Crimes Act, Senator Sessions responded: "It is better to study [the issue]."
   
• Senator Sessions was rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1986 for a federal judgeship due to a long record of racist statements and differential application of the law.  As Representative John Lewis said in Senator Sessions' confirmation hearing for Attorney General, "It doesn't matter how Senator Sessions may smile, how friendly he may be, how he may speak to you.  We need someone who is going to stand up, to speak up, and speak out for the people that need help."  Actions speak louder than words, and Senator Sessions' prosecutorial and legislative history speak loudly and clearly!
   
• Senator Sessions has a long history of promoting bills and policies that keep immigrant victims and survivors in the shadows, making communities less safe and creating barriers to access to services.

Please call and/or send a message to your Senators, urging them to oppose Jeff Sessions' confirmation as Attorney General.  

Tools and Resources

Social media posts are also a great way to make your views known.  Below are a sample script, Tweets and Facebook posts. Be sure to say you are a constituent!  The hashtag for this effort is #StopSessions.  Find your Senators' Twitter handles here.

Call (877) 959-6082 to be connected to your Senators or find your Senators and their contact information here.  

Sample script: My name is [your name] and I am calling from [your location and, if applicable, your organization].  I oppose Senator Sessions' confirmation as Attorney General.  His comment about sexual assault, his prosecutorial history of differential application of the law, his opposition to VAWA 2013, his promotion of policies that harm immigrant victims and survivors, and his opposition to LGBTQ rights disqualify him from this position. Senator Sessions is not qualified to be our top legal advocate for victims.

Sample Facebook Post: I oppose Senator Sessions' confirmation as Attorney General.  His real or feigned ignorance about sexual assault, his prosecutorial history of differential application of the law, his opposition to VAWA 2013, his promotion of policies that harm immigrant victims and survivors, and his opposition to LGBTQ rights disqualify him from this position. Senator Sessions is not qualified to be our top victim advocate.

Sample Tweets:
[Senator's Twitter Handle] Sen. Sessions is not qualified to be our top victim advocate. #StopSessions
[Senator's Twitter Handle] Sen. Sessions' minimization of sexual assault makes him unfit for Attorney General #StopSessions
[Senator's Twitter Handle] Sen. Sessions opposed VAWA 2013 and cannot be trusted to implement and enforce it #StopSessions
[Senator's Twitter Handle] Sen. Sessions opposed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 2013; we can't trust him to protect survivors as AG #StopSessions

Additional Reading

NTF letter to Senate Judiciary Committee

See how Senators voted for the 2013 VAWA reauthorization 

Red-state Democrats turn against Sessions for AG: Several of them cite his opposition to domestic violence legislation four years ago

Sessions is unqualified to be nation's leading victim advocate

Jeff Sessions is a threat to all vulnerable Americans