Tahirih Justice Center celebrated the opening of its Houston office with an inaugural reception attended by more than 130 members of the Houston corporate, nonprofit, academic, and religious communities.

As long as IMBRA implementation and enforcement is lagging, vulnerable foreign women who meet American men through IMBs will remain dangerously unaware of lifesaving information about a future partner’s violent criminal history and about their legal rights.

A Tahirih-sponsored congressional briefing offered policymakers and the public a vital opportunity to learn about the harmful impact of unsettled policy and current immigration laws on women and girls fleeing gender-based violence.

The lack of clarity and coherence in gender-based asylum law is a roadblock to women seeking protection from violence and persecution.

Women seeking political asylum in the United States based on gender-related persecution can get mired in a legal labyrinth that can leave their cases unresolved for years.

Twelve Tahirih clients are among the first in the nation to receive U visas, a vital legal protection for immigrant women and girls who face numerous obstacles in fleeing violence.

Discussions are underway about how to strengthen the Violence Against Women Act to better protect survivors of violence, and Tahirih is a vital voice.

As we face tough economic times, we are particularly grateful for any amount you are able to give to support our work. Please know that your investment in us will be used wisely.

Tahirih’s clients have historically been faced with threats of arrest and deportation from their abusers, but lately these women, who have a right to legal status, are caught in the crossfire of increased activities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Critical legislation would help counteract the severe “chilling effect” that exists due to immigrant victims’ fear and confusion about what treatment they can expect from police—deterring crime-reporting and help-seeking, hindering law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, and undermining public safety for us all.