Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

While we know anecdotally that immigrant women survivors of violence gain concrete economic advantages after they have obtained employment authorization, Congress has never analyzed or quantified these advantages, nor have they analyzed the other obstacles these marginalized populations face in gaining meaningful employment even after they obtain employment authorization such as lack of skills or educational training, language barriers and discrimination (Szabo et al., 2014). In light of recently implemented and proposed changes to federal immigration policy and the substantial need for immigration assistance for low-income individuals, in this proposal we will emphasize the impact of immigration remedies on economic independence for this marginalized population. Recognition on work authorization delays and its consequences for undocumented immigrant survivors of violence is sorely needed. This proposal will focus on an analysis of economic justice issues for immigrant women, specifically the economic advantages that immigrant women gain when they are able to receive employment authorization through immigration legal remedies available under the VAWA. The result suggest that immigrant women survivors of violence should receive work authorization within 90 days. The high need of a swift U visa filing process from USCIS is required to serve the marginalized population to reduce any further risks that the population might have.