For Domestic Violence Victims, the Trump Administration Just Made it Harder to Escape

For many survivors of domestic violence, escape is not a single act—it’s a long, dangerous choreography of planning, hiding, and trying to stay alive. It often means stashing essentials in an escape bag, waiting for a moment when the abuser’s guard is down, and leaving in the middle of the night. But now, even for those who make it out, a new directive from the Department of Justice could stop them at the shelter door. The policy, known as the Legal Services Condition, requires survivors to prove their immigration status before receiving help from programs that are funded  by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)—a law that, for over three decades, has served as a lifeline for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  “This directive amounts to institutional betrayal on every level,” says Dr. Sarah Gundle, a New York-based clinical psychologist who works with trauma survivors. “The stakes of turning a survivor away are extremely high. They will face real life and death consequences. Turning away survivors doesn’t just put them in real physical danger, it will also inflict serious psychological harm.”  Twenty states and D.C. have filed suit to block the policy. But the damage could already be done. The message to survivors—particularly immigrants—is clear: Safety comes with strings attached. U.S. citizens and victims who are documented could also be turned away if they do not have proof of their citizenship (or legal status) with them.  “Besides excluding undocumented victims from services, this order forces victims to obtain their immigration documents, which are sometimes in the control of their abusers. Some of these victims will not be able to get the documents because they cannot risk letting their abusive partner know they are taking any kind of legal or other steps” said Joan Meier, Esq, Director of The National Family Violence Law Center. This directive also forces community organizations to become immigration screeners, Meier adds.  Researchers have long known that the moment a survivor tries to leave is the most dangerous time. A study from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health found that one-third of victims killed by their partners were murdered within a month of getting a restraining order. Lauren Wellbank, a writer from Pennsylvania, has firsthand experience with violent threats from her ex-fiancé. “He threatened to kill me if I left him—and one day he tried,” she recalls. “He strangled me until I blacked out.” When she regained consciousness, she knew she had to flee and made up a reason to leave; she was taking the cats to her mom’s house. After they broke up, he stalked her and tried to break into her home. Police warned her that he would try to kill her again and referred her to a local organization that helps domestic violence victims. That organization helped her secure a permanent restraining order. Her abuser was later arrested. Wellbank is not alone. Intimate partner homicide is one of the leading causes of death for women in the United States – with nearly three women murdered every day by a partner. The imminent federal budget cuts will also make it harder for victims to escape. On July 4, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1, a sweeping bill that slashes billions from Medicaid, cuts food assistance and significantly limits access to mental health and crisis intervention programs–all critical safety nets for survivors. “These are the most drastic cuts we have ever seen in our public health system,” said Laura Guy, a clinical social worker in New York City, and a clinical supervisor for community based mental health programs affiliated with Fordham University. The cuts, she warns, could erase some of the only safe spaces where family violence victims can seek help without their abuser knowing—such as school-based mental health clinics. Typically run by local organizations, universities, or hospitals, but located within a school building, they provide a multitude of confidential services to students and families. Financial abuse is one of the most common tools of control in violent relationships. Abusers often restrict access to bank accounts or other assets to keep survivors reliant on them. For survivors trying to escape, SNAP benefits can be particularly important in reducing financial dependence on an abuser and helping victims survive. Cutting these benefits doesn’t just threaten livelihoods—it endangers lives. The cumulative effect of these policies is chilling: they isolate victims at the exact moment they most need connection. Abusers will become more emboldened, knowing their partner has even fewer safety net programs to help them escape. They make survival contingent on paperwork. They turn shelters into immigration checkpoints. Despite these significant challenges, some help remains. The 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline continues to operate (1-800-799-7233), connecting survivors to confidential support in more than 200 languages. Community organizations are also still working to help victims seek services safely. “Trusted nonprofits, immigrant rights groups, and domestic violence programs can help survivors understand their rights, connect people to confidential legal and social services, and make safety plans without fear of deportation,” says Rachel Kafele, co-founder of Oasis Legal Services and the Director of Programs & Advocacy. “We urge survivors to contact community-based organizations with free services. If possible, survivors should not have to navigate these changes alone.” For survivors like Wellbank, those connections were lifesaving. “Cutting domestic violence programs and turning survivors away because of their immigration status is a death sentence,” she says. “No one can do this without support.”