There should be no immigration enforcement in courthouses if we expect domestic victims to come forward to get the legal protection that can stop their abuse.
American Bar Association recently urged Congress to add courthouses to the “sensitive locations” list that guides immigration enforcement of undocumented workers. This policy is critical if domestic violence survivors are to feel safe coming to court for protective orders or to testify in criminal hearings.
The threat of being turned over to ICE is often used by abusers to prevent victims from leaving violent relationships and to force compliance. Even if a victim is legally in the U.S. she may have relatives who are not legal who she fears will be put in jeopardy.