Posted on 09/06/2004 12:44:39 PM PDT by yonif
SAN JUAN, Texas Elvira Arredondo is trying to make up for 14 years without smiling.
The San Antonio Express-News reports the owner of a taqueria in the small Rio Grande Valley town of San Juan is today an independent woman. That's after she broke away from more than a decade of abuse by her husband.
Thousands of undocumented immigrant women nationwide are victims of domestic violence. But they're held prisoner as their abusers use their status as U-S residents or citizens to threaten to have the women deported.
But an obscure section of the Violence Against Women Act allows abused undocumented immigrant women -- and children and men -- to file secretly for legal residency on their own.
They also can apply -NOT- to be deported if they've already been ordered out of the country.
Applicants must be formally married when they submit the paperwork, which typically includes a statement detailing the type and length of abuse.
Most applications are approved, unless government reviewers don't see enough proof of abuse or if applicants have a criminal record.
Civil War II may come sooner than we think.
Along the (North) border, a new eye on security
Flow of migrants puts border's agents on alert
Retail giant acknowledges settlement talks in illegal workers case
Latino Activist: "Immigration study tells slanted story" [BARF ALERT]
Parties targeting 12 million immigrant citizens of voting age (not assimilating)
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