Immigrant Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Why Does Immigrant Sexual Assault Go Unreported?
Immigrants may face additional hardships when dealing with sexual assault.
Many immigrants are hesitant to report sexual harassment or sexual assault. Reporting sexual misconduct can be terrifying and many survivors wonder if the person they report to will believe them or blame them. For undocumented individuals who are living in the United States, the stakes may be even higher. Undocumented individuals will often forego reporting out of fears that doing so will jeopardize their immigration status.
The compassionate attorneys at Jessica Pride’s California-based Survivor Law Firm are here to help. If you have experienced sexual assault or harassment contact us online or by calling (619) 516-8166. No one deserves to be subjected to sexual misconduct. Read on to learn more about how the Survivor Law team helps immigrants who may have experienced sexual misconduct
5 Reasons Why Immigrants Avoid Reporting Sexual Assault
There are various reasons that immigrants may avoid reporting including:
- Fear of deportation: Undocumented immigrants may fear that reporting sexual assault or harassment could lead to their own deportation or the deportation of their family members. They may worry that contacting law enforcement will draw attention to their immigration status and result in negative consequences.
- Language barriers: Immigrants who are not fluent in the spoken language of the country they have immigrated to may need help communicating effectively with law enforcement. Limited language skills can make it difficult for them to articular their experiences or understand the reporting process.
- Losing custody of children: Immigrant parents may avoid reporting out of fear that their children will be taken away from them. They may have heard about the difficulty of child welfare systems and want to protect their families from being broken apart.
- Economic vulnerability: Immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented or have precarious immigration status, often face economic hardships. They may fear that reporting sexual assault could lead to job loss or further exploitation. This economic vulnerability can deter them from seeking justice.
- Lack of knowledge about available legal relief: Immigrants may be unaware of the support systems and various types of relief available to them. These resources include hotlines, counseling services, or organizations that specialize in helping survivors of sexual assault.
For many survivors, particularly women, staying silent and continuing to work in predatory conditions may feel like the safest option. However, keep in mind that when speaking with attorneys from The Pride Law Firm, your communications are fully confidential. You can explore your options privately before deciding to take legal action.
Sexual Assault of Immigrants — Statistics
Safety and freedom are basic human rights provided to those living in the U.S. Everyone, under the U.S. Constitution, has a right to exist in violence-free environments and seek justice against the perpetrators who violate this right. This includes undocumented individuals. For immigrants, misconceptions about their rights as well as a lack of trust in the legal system build a tremendous barrier to reporting the abuse
Reporting sexual assault can be an extremely daunting experience for anyone–but reporting as an undocumented immigrant comes with unique challenges. Female immigrants may become targets for those who wish to harm them. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 3 men and nearly half of all women will experience sexual violence at some point in their lives. These figures only represent reported crimes–countless others go unrecorded.
Individuals with precarious legal status, like immigrants, will often refrain from reporting sexual assaults, harassment, or misconduct. An individual’s lack of legal status presents all kinds of challenges and makes them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. They will often face heightened levels of risk at both work and at home.
If you or someone you know has experienced unwanted sexual advances, sexual harassment, or sexual assault it is important to know that you are not alone. You deserve to feel safe at both your workplace and at your home. Contact Jessica Pride’s team online at (619) 516-8166 to learn more about what you can do to pursue legal action.
How Can Sexual Misconduct Lawyers Help Immigrants?
Many undocumented immigrants live in constant fear of deportation. The thought of walking into a police station or attorney’s office seeking help seems counterproductive. Immigrants depend on their jobs for their own survival and for their family’s survival. This makes reporting workplace sexual abuse extremely difficult for fear of not being taken seriously, job retaliation, or even further abuse based on their vulnerability.
Sexual misconduct lawyers can provide essential relief to immigrants. Lawyers can help immigrants by:
- Helping them understand their rights
- Helping them report the abuse
- Protecting them from retaliation
- Guiding them through legal proceedings
- Representing them before the court
It is crucial for survivors of sexual assault, including immigrants, to seek the assistance of experienced sexual misconduct lawyers who have skill in handling such cases. These lawyers can provide comprehensive legal support and work towards obtaining justice and recovery for their clients.
Contact an Immigration Sexual Assault Attorney Today
When choosing a lawyer to handle your sexual misconduct case, it is important to select a lawyer who is caring and compassionate. The attorneys at Jessica Pride’s Survivor Law Firm have achieved incredible success for their clients.
Why Hire Jessica Pride
Jessica Pride has years of experience fighting for survivors of sexual misconduct since the very beginning of her career. We will handle your case with experience, understanding, and trauma-informed care.
Contact The Pride Law Firm online or by calling our office at (619) 516-8166. Please also reach out to organizations such as RAINN to speak confidentially with a trained member of their support staff for additional emotional support. With the right team by your side, you can move through this difficult time to a better future.
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Immigrant Abuse FAQs
What are the rights and protections available to survivors during the immigration process?
Immigrants and undocumented individuals are often afraid to report sexual misconduct out of fear that they will face deportation or that they will self-sabotage their immigration process. Even during the immigration process, and even if you are undocumented, you are still entitled to safety and security.
A lawyer who specializes in immigrant sexual misconduct cases will be able to help you receive justice and safeguard your rights.
How can I find resources or services for survivors of sexual misconduct?
There are many resources available to those who have experienced sexual misconduct. The trauma of sexual misconduct does not have to define your life, there are many resources available to you to help you reclaim your life. The Center for Community Solutions offers a 24-Hour Survivor Support Hotline. You can contact them at 1 (888) 385-4657. They can help you understand what has happened to you and what to do next.
Sexual misconduct is a traumatic experience, but it does not have to define you.
What should I do If I have experienced sexual misconduct?
If you have experienced sexual misconduct, harassment, abuse, or assault, it is most critical that you get yourself to a safe location. You should call the police, should seek medical treatment if necessary. Many immigrants may be afraid to call the police but know that your lawyer can be present with you while you file a report.
If possible, begin to preserve any evidence from the incident. A lawyer who has specialized in sexual misconduct cases will be able to help you through this process.
When should I file my sexual misconduct lawsuit?
There is usually a limited window for filing sexual misconduct or sexual assault lawsuits. This is known as a statute of limitations. California has recently revised its statute of limitations for these crimes.
For sexual misconduct crimes that occurred after January 1, 2019, survivors have up to 10 years to file their lawsuits. However, the new law has opened up many other avenues of recovery so it is essential to consult an attorney. Even if you were harmed years ago, it may now be possible for you to receive justice.
Don’t wait for the statute of limitations to expire on your case. Contact Jessica Pride online or by calling (619) 516-8166. Jessica and her team have represented many immigrants through the sexual misconduct litigation process, obtaining favorable results for their clients.