Illegal Immigrant Women Eligible For Protection, Visas

Victims of violence stand a chance of U.S. citizenship

Desperate, driven crazy by an ongoing onslaught of domestic
violence, the young Latina hanged her three children and
then took her own life.

Her infant child survived.

Had she waited a while longer, Gilberta Estrada Vega, 25, of
Weatherford, would probably been given a permanent visa
under the provisions of the provisions of the Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.

She had applied for the status with the help of violence
against women counselors. Her case was pending when she
carried out her rash act.

Uncle Sam is issuing as many as 10,000 such visas each year,
a new resource in the arsenal used against illegal aliens
who break the law with drugs, human trafficking or their
fists.

Once police officers establish there is violence in the
home, it's a simple matter to apply through the immigration
authorities and receive protection. All you have to do is
wait.

According to experts in the field, no one has ever heard of
a case where a woman has applied for the visa, then been
denied and sent back to Mexico.

The abusive husband or family member could very well be
deported while she and her children stay behind with
excellent chances of becoming naturalized American citizens.

Victims say their abusers often tell them no one will listen
to them because of their illegal status.

It is just not true.