House GOP Would Let Domestic Abusers Know Their Victims Called For Help

[Scuba]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/04/478442/house-gop-would-let-domestic-abusers-know-their-victims-called-for-help/

The GOP-led House’s version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) would not only strip away Senate-passed protections for undocumented, LGBT, and Native American victims, it also contains a dangerous provision that violates an undocumented victim’s confidentiality by allowing immigration officials to speak with, and ask for evidence from, his or her abuser.

Visas offered to undocumented victims of domestic violence are called “U Visas” and the Senate version of the bill expanded the number of U Visas offered to victims. The House bill not only strips out the additional visas, it also contains a new provision enabling government officials to inform “the accused” that their victim blew the whistle on their abuse:

During the adjudication of each petition under this paragraph, an investigative officer from a local service center of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall conduct an in-person interview of the alien who filed the petition. The investigative officer may also gather other evidence and interview other witnesses, including the accused United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, if they consent to be interviewed.

Undocumented victims already fear calling the police because they risk deportation in doing so. This portion of the bill adds on another level of fear by alerting their abusers that they’ve sought help — under current law, immigrant victims enjoy a right to confidentiality that would be seriously undermined by this bill. Allowing perpetrators of domestic violence to play any role in the deportation or protection of their victims is a cruel fate, but alerting an abuser to a victim’s complaint adds yet another level of emotional abuse on top of the physical abuse that the victim already faces.

[Turbineguy]

1. The GOP dream

getting other people to do the killing for you. Anyway, if you're a victim of domestic abuse it's because gawd doesn't love you.

[Zalatix]

3. The 99% killing each other... just what the Plutocracy wants.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Every time the GOP gets their hands on something that *could* be good...

They strip the good from it, and twist the original intent to make it as awful as they can.

It's as though they want to hurt everyone who isn't like them.

It makes me sick.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. CaliforniaPeggy, you said it exactly right

that is exactly what they do.
If that's not the definition of evil, nothing is.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Thank you, my dear BlancheSplanchnik!

That is considerable praise, and I am most appreciative that you said it!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

11. Heyyyy, I'm only callin it like I see it!

I sure couldn't come up with words for how despicable that was, but you articulated it perfectly.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. ...

[JoePhilly]

5. How else can the abusers "stand their ground"????

[fascisthunter]

7. like Zimmerman?

[fascisthunter]

6. GOP=Champions for Domestic Abusers

most of which are themselves... verrry telling right wing. Keep up the great work.

[LASlibinSC]

8. Do these bastards even know any women?

GOP: Group Of Perpetrators

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. I often wonder the same

How can they do things like this? I have no idea what it's like to be that lacking in empathy

[Whisp]

10. ignorant hateful filth.

[AverageJoe90]

14. Fucking misogynist freaks. FUCK 'EM ALL. nt

Can anyone believe this? Even in the 1950s this wouldn't have been tolerated, not even by most conservatives. Sadly, it just goes to show what kind of people had been taking over the GOP since the Nixon era, and who've been running it since the Clinton years.