“Looking back, I see that I had the strength and resolve the whole time. Because of trauma, we tell ourselves we can’t do it. But in reality, we have overcome so much, and we will continue to overcome. I’m going to continue pressing forward to reach my dreams.”

The Tahirih Justice Center is deeply concerned about the impact that the new rule expanding the definition of “public charge” will have on survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and related trauma.

The informational event, “Respect for Working People!,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Patterson High School in Baltimore, Md.

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

Long-awaited regulations that govern the process by which survivors of certain serious crimes and human trafficking may apply to become lawful permanent residents went into effect Jan. 12, 2009.