2024 Impact Report
2024 Impact Report
National Programs
We are supporting survivors of violence through
direct services
Since 1997, Tahirih has answered more than 36,000 calls for help from people fleeing domestic abuse, sexual assault, forced marriage, and human trafficking, providing the free legal services needed to achieve the immigration status to which survivors are entitled under U.S. law and vital social services so they can rebuild their lives.
In 2024, we:
- Provided free legal services to 1,883 immigrant women and children and 1,155 of their family members.
- Connected 396 clients and their family members with vital social services, including emergency shelter, food and clothing, and health care.
- Mobilized 1,359 attorneys in our Pro Bono Network to leverage donated resources and maximize our capacity.
Tahirih Houston staff and volunteers at our client holiday party.
Attorneys from major national law firms participate in a legal clinic to help serve survivors of violence access the protection and benefits to which they are entitled.
Individuals Impacted Through Free Legal Services in 2024
I hope my story is helpful to someone else…and can inspire many women to be stronger. We need to help young women identify toxic relationships, so that there are fewer Camilas that go through such difficult things.
Camila, Tahirih client
Our Clients
In 2024, the top five countries of origin for our clients were:
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Mexico
- Afghanistan
While many of our clients experienced violence in their countries of origin,
58%
experience abuse and exploitation after coming to the United States.
Types of Immigration Protections in 2024
39% Asylum for survivors fleeing persecution in home country
33% U visa for survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, or violent crime who assist law enforcement
9% Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) relief for survivors of domestic violence inflicted by spouse or parent
6% T visa for survivors of human trafficking
1% Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for survivors of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect
11% Permanent Residency by receipt of green card
1% Other
We are enabling communities to meet the needs of survivors through
community outreach and training
Tahirih’s outreach programs provide thousands of frontline professionals and community members with an understanding of the unique obstacles that immigrant survivors face in the wake of violence, as well as the essential tools needed to help.
In 2024, we:
- Engaged 19,583 professionals in outreach and training at 279 events.
- Hosted 12 webinars and one in-person regional training event reaching more than 2,000 attorneys and service providers, funded by training and technical assistance grants from the Department of Justice, Office of Violence against Women, and Department of Health and Human Services.
- Shared information about the impact of changes to immigration policy on the safety of survivors of domestic and sexual violence through a webinar with nearly 500 participants from the media, immigrant rights partners, and domestic violence organizations.
- Presented at the National Network to End Domestic Violence Annual Technology Summit about technology and immigrant survivors of gender-based violence with funding from the Office on Violence Against Women Training and Technical Assistance on Trauma Informed Lawyering.
- Led a workshop at the National Sexual Assault Conference 2024 entitled, “Bridges to Safety: Securing Economic Justice for Immigrant Survivors through Trauma Informed Legal Resources.”
- Conducted a training on trauma informed legal services for trafficking survivors to Idaho Legal Service Providers in partnership with Futures Without Violence.
Tahirih Director of Public Policy Casey Carter Swegman and Forced Marriage Initiative Project Manager Hellitz Villegas present together at the National Network to End Domestic Violence Annual Technology Summit.
The work [Tahirih] do[es] is so vital and important and easily overlooked. There’s just this entire community that goes under the radar. People don’t realize that undocumented immigrants are helping them in their daily lives so to give a voice to people like that is very meaningful.
Marlo Goldstein, Tahirih volunteer, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Host Hotels & Resorts
We are fostering lasting change through
nonpartisan policy advocacy
Tahirih’s policy team amplifies the experiences of immigrant survivors in communities, courts, and Congress to bring about systemic change, ensuring that laws and policies protect survivors from violence and exploitation.
In 2024, we:
- Advocated alongside our partners against a congressional spending bill that would have greatly reduced access to asylum, participated in a rally and press conference, and organized a public petition campaign.
- Partnered with bill champions in the Senate for the historic introduction of the Child Marriage Prevention Act, the first federal legislation aiming to end child marriage within the United States.
- Drafted and submitted a comment to the federal Administration to advocate for the withdrawal of a proposed rule that would make it harder for asylum seekers, especially survivors of violence, to pass credible fear and reasonable fear interviews.
- Litigated national impact cases challenging rulemaking in federal court, including Tahirih Justice Center v. Mayorkas, Centro Legal v. EOIR, and East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Biden.
- Won a motion to reopen and reconsider after our initial petition to adjust status was denied, resulting in a grant of lawful permanent status for a client’s child.
- Filed amicus briefs in cases before the United States Courts of Appeals in cases impacting survivors of gender-based violence.
- Advocated for clients via APA/mandamus litigation delay cases filed in federal court.
Tahirih CEO Archi Pyati and other Tahirih staff participated in the #SaveAsylum Rally on Capitol Hill.
Tahirih Director of Public Policy Casey Carter Swegman attended a celebration at the White House for the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act.
We are working to end
forced and child marriage in the united states
In 2024, we:
- Provided direct services to 100 clients and expert technical assistance impacting 282 individuals across the United States and abroad.
- Equipped 2,270 advocates, allies, service providers, and other frontline professionals with critical tools to identify forced marriage and protect victims.
- Campaigned successfully for three more states to end child marriage without exception—Virginia, New Hampshire, and Washington—in partnership with survivor advocates, bringing the total to 13 states nationwide that have banned child marriage.
- Led a campaign to end child marriage in Washington, D.C. that culminated with the Council passing a law to end child marriage in D.C., which now awaits approval from the Mayor and Congress.
- Launched our training and technical assistance program funded by the Office on Violence Against Women, which hosted two webinars and a virtual roundtable with over 350 participants thus far.
- Researched victim services providers’ familiarity with forced marriage by conducting a national field assessment.
Tahirih Public Policy Manager Alex Goyette testified in support of a bill to end child marriage in Washington, D.C.
Tahirih Director of Public Policy Casey Carter Swegman testified at the Virginia House of Delegates in support of a bill to end child marriage entirely.
I can’t forget our adventure in 2019 to get my green card replacement and I can’t forget the support you gave me. Without the Forced Marriage Initiative, I wouldn’t have reached this milestone of becoming a U.S. citizen. I’m so grateful.
Shahad, Tahirih client
