The 3.2 million undocumented women living in the U.S. today are
among the most socially, economically and legally marginalized in our society,
and subsequently the most vulnerable to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
Intersecting factors of gender, ethnicity, and legal status expose undocumented
women to multiplicative vulnerabilities and negative health effects. Isolation,
fear of deportation, and limited access to social services both perpetuate IPV and
prevent women from seeking help. While the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA) legal reforms help abused immigrant women seek citizenship and
safety, many barriers (emotional, financial, and logistical) still remain.
Furthermore, the perpetual stress of being undocumented places women at
increased biological risk for negative health effects. Clinician interventions
include patient education, documentation, advocacy and further research.