Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the U.S.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the U.S. is a federal law in the country signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, reauthorized and expanded several times since, most recently in 2022. This legislation offered USD 1.6 billion for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, imposing immediate and obligatory restitution of those convicted and allowing civil redress for the cases that prosecutors chose to keep un-prosecuted. 

You can also rely on our US immigration attorney for services related to obtaining USA citizenship. Before that, you will need a residence permit in USA.

Main provisions of the VAWA in the U.S.

The main provisions of the VAWA in the U.S. consist of:

•    Full funding of rape kits and/or legal court fees in connection to a protection order;
•    Victim protection orders are acknowledged and enforced on the entire territory of the U.S.;
•    Enactment and funding of special domestic violence crime units within the local communities;
•   Endowment which enables undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic violence to apply for the U.S. permanent residence by filing a self-petition (Form I-360) without the abuser's knowledge or cooperation; the separate U visa is for crime victims who help law enforcement;
•    Other provisions. Our immigration lawyer in Miami can provide further details on what these other provisions may consist of.

We will also help you apply for a residence permit in USA.

Improvements to the criminal justice response brought by VAWA in the U.S.

The VAWA in the U.S. brought several improvements to the criminal justice response, such as:

•    It enables to make rapists responsible for their crimes by reinforcing the federal penalties for repeat sex criminals and organizing a federal law that has the goal of preventing criminals from using the victims’ anterior sexual behavior against them in a rape trial. A US immigration lawyer can offer more details on this matter;
•    It rules that victims, regardless of their income, are not obliged to pay for the expense of the rape exams and for the service of a protection order;
•    Maintains the safety of the victims by enforcing a victim’s protection order to be acknowledged and enforced on the entire territory of the U.S.;
•    Makes sure that the police force answers to crisis calls and judges comprehends the aspects of domestic and sexual violence.

If you or a family member have or has been involved in a case concerning domestic violence, or if you are an undocumented immigrant who is a victim of such crime, it is imperative to contact an immigration attorney in Miami who is specialized in the Violence Against Women Act in the U.S. We can also advise on USA citizenship matters.