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“Reducing the Threat of Sexual Violence”

Immigrants and Sexual Assault

    In southern parts of Arizona you may come across miles and miles of desert with women’s clothing hanging from trees. These trees are being referred to as “rape trees” and represent in plain sight the horrible sexual violence many immigrant women face. It is not unusual for the men who help undocumented immigrants cross the border (coyotes) to rape the women they are taking, and the rates of such rape are reaching epidemic proportions.  When the coyotes or drug cartel members rape the women they are taking across the border, they take a bra or a pair of underwear from her and hang it on a tree, as a mark of conquest.

   All immigrant women who are in the country legally or illegally may face the following challenges that put them at high risk for sexual violence:

Facts to Know:
    In the United States there is no residency or citizenship requirement for protection orders, civil court, or criminal court. Everyone has the right to police protection. There is no federal or state statute for police to report immigration status of victims.

   The Violence Against Women’s Act (2000) provides protection for immigrants facing the aftermath of sexual assault. Victims of sexual crimes may qualify for U visa –Deferred Action status (interim relief). The same health and counseling services offered to citizens are offered to immigrants.

    The Southern Arizona Battered Immigrant Women Project has established six task forces to assist immigrant women in Arizona’s seven southern counties: Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, Pinal, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma Counties.

Click here to view the task force and domenstic violence shelter “Hands of a Friend” contact information

Some resource materials in Spanish can be found by clicking here

References:

Southern Arizona Battered Immigrant Women Project wins “Program of the Year” at Rural Health Conference ,Health Matters for Rural Women Newsletter SEPTEMBER • OCTOBER 2009, Rural Women’s Health Initiative
Rape and Immigrant Women, The Curvature Blogathon
Assisting Immigrant Victims of Sexual Assault, www.victimrights.org
"Rape Trees" Found Along Southern US Border by Mariela Rosario