STOP TA Clinic 12/12/22: Strengthening Support for Immigrant Survivors w/ Leslye Orloff (NIWAP)

View Ms. Orloff’s PowerPoint.

For a complete list of materials referenced throughout this Clinic, click here.  

Supporting immigrant survivors is an important, but potentially overlooked, aspect of STOP Administration. In this Clinic, Leslye Orloff began by giving an overview of the unique power and control dynamics for immigrant survivors. Statistics show that lifetime abuse rates of immigrant women can be as high as 49.8%, which is nearly 3 times the national percentage. Additionally, the risk of sexual assault amongst immigrant women in the United States is much higher than the national average. With these striking statistics, it is important to determine and implement best practices for screening for and addressing immigration related abuse. Ms. Orloff continued by discussing the reasons many immigrant survivors do not access the legal rights and resources they’re eligible for. For instance, many immigrant survivors may not be aware of the different visas available to them under VAWA. The conversation continued with Ms. Orloff identifying the different types of programs and services that can best assist immigrant survivors. She emphasized that immigrant survivors need a holistic approach to services, rather than services that target only one area. The next portion of the Clinic covered the different types of protections available to immigrant victims. NIWAP also has an Interactive Public Benefits Map available on their website. The Clinic concluded with an open conversation between Ms. Orloff and Administrators. 

Leslye E. Orloff is an Adjunct Professor and Director of the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP) at American University, Washington College of Law. Ms. Orloff’s 40-year career includes working collaboratively with experts across the country to develop and implement immigration relief, public benefits access and family law protections for immigrant women, children and survivors. She was involved in drafting the protections for immigrant victims in the Violence Against Women Acts of 1994, 2000, 2005, and 2013, the Trafficking Victims Protection Acts of 2000 and 2008, and legal services and public benefits access for immigrant survivors in 1996, 1997 and 2005. Ms. Orloff received her J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Brandeis University.