Program Summary

Vea abajo para descripción de resumen de programa española PILOT PROGRAM FOR MEXICAN NATIONAL WOMEN AND CHILDREN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES

In order to address the unique needs of Mexican national women residing in the United States who are the victims of domestic abuse, and Mexican national children who are unaccompanied minors or the victims of abuse, abandonment or neglect, the Dirección General de Protección y Asuntos Consulares of the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores of the Government of Mexico and the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (“CHRCL”) have jointly established a two-year Pilot Program for Mexican National Women and Children Victims of Domestic Abuse in the United States (“Pilot Program”). In 2005 the Pilot Program operated in four States, California, Arizona, Texas and Illinos. In 2006 the Program will operate nationwide.

The CHRCL is a non-profit organization located in Los Angeles, California. The CHRCL has a history of expertise and experience in addressing the needs of undocumented Mexican nationals residing in the United States, including providing legal and social services to women and children who have been the victims of domestic abuse and violence, and defending the legal rights of undocumented Mexican national migrants before the courts of the United States. Additionally, the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Inc. ("CHRCL, Inc."), the sister of organization the CHRCL, operates the Casa Libre Youth Shelter, a 14-bed licensed shelter in Los Angeles, California, that serves abused, abandoned, and/or neglected undocumented immigrant children in the United States.

During the second year of the Pilot Program (December 2005 to November 2006), the Pilot Program will:

(1) conduct a large scale outreach campaign publicizing the Pilot Program in areas throughout the United States with high concentrations of immigrants;

(2) expand to make nationwide the Program's resource database of free or low cost social and legal service providers (available through this website);

(3) provide technical support and training to legal services providers, pro bono lawyers, community-based organizations, and survivors of domestic violence on issues relating to the legal rights of immigrant survivors of domestic violence and victims of violent crimes

(4) through the Casa Libre program, provide abandoned, abused, and/or neglected migrant children with social services and legal services;

(5) assist approximately 400 Mexican national women who are the victims of domestic abuse, and children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected to apply for immigration benefits in the United States; and

(6) provide funding and technical support to other legal services providers throughout the country with the goal of assisting approximately 400 women and children survivors of domestic violence with access to legal and social services.

If you know of any women or children or local legal services programs that may benefit from the Pilot Program, please contact the the Program’s Director, Peter Schey at pschey@centerforhumanrights.org or 213-388-8693 ext 104.

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Program Summary