Domestic violence in immigrant families: Battered Lives 3-part multimedia series
Immigrant victims of domestic violence have few options
With all the attention that domestic violence has received of late, the unique struggles of immigrant families beset by domestic violence have remained largely overlooked.
Linked below is a 3-part series that I wrote on the dynamics of domestic abuse in immigrant families.
Part 1 shows that Santa Ana, Calif., whose residents are largely immigrant families, has the highest rate of calls to police for domestic violence among the state's largest cities. The article also reveals that the police department in Santa Ana allocates far less manpower to domestic violence than do neighboring cities with far fewer calls to police.
Part 2 looks at the obstacles faced by immigrant victims of domestic violence, including threats by an abuser to have them deported or their children taken away, lack of English and knowledge of resrources, work restrictions, culture, and police indifference.
And Part 3 examines an emerging policy solution: family justice centers such as Anaheim's.