Everyone Deserves Safety: Standing With Immigrant Survivors

As an organization, we want to acknowledge that the recent surge in immigration enforcement in our state has lasting impacts on the victims we serve every day. Survivors are feeling pressured to stay in unsafe situations at home, for fear of detainment and deportation if they leave. This makes it even more difficult for survivors to reach out for resources or ask for help. Victims of domestic violence already feel isolated from their friends, family, and community, and ICE operations are exacerbating this. 

Now more than ever, it's easier for abusers to exercise coercive control over immigrant survivors through threats of deportation and withholding or stealing important documentation. Immigrant survivors fear being separated from their children if they are detained or deported. They may also face abuse while in detention; reports from 2023 indicate that hundreds reported sexual abuse. 

No one should ever have to fear being separated from their family. No one should ever have to choose between an unsafe home and an unsafe community. No one should ever fear reaching out for help. Everyone deserves safety, both in their homes and in their community.  

At the core of our mission is the unwavering belief that everyone deserves to live free from violence and fear, regardless of race, gender, immigration status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. This belief is what guides our work and is the reason why we're committed to offering our services to all survivors. 

Violence Free Minnesota, our statewide coalition to end intimate partner violence, reminds us: 

“If abuse depends on isolation, our antidote is community. If abuse diminishes individual agency, our antidote is reclaiming our power. If abuse fosters fear and

self-doubt, our antidote is courage and truth-telling.” — Violence Free Minnesota 

We stand with all survivors, especially our immigrant neighbors and we remain committed to helping build the safety and belonging every person deserves. 

In the spirit of community, below are support services and resources: 

Organizations to support: 

• Esperanza United 

• Asian Women United of Minnesota 

• Phumulani 

• Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota 

• Unidos MN 

• MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee 

• Midwest Immigration Bond Fund 

  
  

Know your rights: 

• https://www.genderjustice.us/ice-report/ 

• Know Your Rights Tools 

• Know Your Rights Cards (Red Cards) 

  
  

Legal help: 

• National Immigration Legal Services Directory 

• In-person & remote legal clinics 

• https://www.ilcm.org/immigration-help/ 

  
  

How to get involved: 

• Attend a training with the Immigrant Defense Network 

• Support any of the organizations above with your time or financial support