One woman’s story of why we need VAWA

The buzz on Capitol Hill right now is how, even in these times of hyper partisanship, domestic violence and the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) should not be up for debate. Yet amazingly enough, Democrats and Republicans have found ways to disagree on this no-brainer piece of legislation. Specifically, Republicans have been vocal in their opposition to the bill’s provisions meant to help immigrant women who fall victim to abuse. They claim things like “immigrant women don’t need special protection,” or these provisions would “open the floodgates to new Visa applications.”

The book I’m in the midst of writing – Safe Haven – features the stories of two such immigrant women, one who was able to obtain citizenship thanks to VAWA. Akonte (not her real name) came to the United States from Nigeria when she was eight months pregnant with her son, to join her husband who was a legal resident. She entered the country illegally through Canada, and was thrown into further legal quagmire when she discovered soon after her arrival that her husband already had a wife in the US. After her son was born, her husband became increasingly violent and almost killed her. Akonte fled with her baby on her back to a shelter in Baltimore – with no money, no friends or family and little knowledge of how American society worked. The shelter hooked her up with an attorney who helped her through the painstaking, months-long process of obtaining citizenship.

The process was far from easy and was definitely not something she could have navigated on her own. In fact, she was initially turned down due to a bureaucratic error and had to reapply all over again. In the meantime, she was not allowed to work to support herself and her son because she did not have the correct visa. In the end, the process worked and Akonte now lives in her own apartment and has a good job. Thanks to VAWA, she was able to pick up her life and start again.

Help women like Akonte get the help they need to escape horrific abuse by urging Congress to set aside partisanship and reauthorize VAWA now.

My email to Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Dear Congresswoman Gwen Moore:

Your recent floor speech about the pressing need to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) restored my faith in our legislative branch and the “People’s House.” As a survivor of domestic abuse, I no longer felt invisible when you shared that you too are a survivor. As a woman who works in the political world of Washington, I listened to you speak and remembered why I am here.

These days, it seems like most members of Congress rarely say anything that isn’t meant to ensure that special interests funnel money into their campaign coffers. For those few moments, you spoke with the halting passion of someone who has been there and knows exactly why we need more funding to ensure that battered women of all races, education levels and sexual identities can survive.

I would like to share a piece I wrote recently for the Washington Post that chronicles my own journey to survive. You are truly an inspiration – thank you for making me feel less alone. With women like you leading the fight, I believe that we can rebuild our nation to become a place where “domestic violence is not as American as apple pie.”

I’m writing to you today to tell you that I will stand beside you and continue to fight – for your daughter, my daughter and the millions of other young girls who, today, face a world where violence is, more likely than not, a part of their past, present or future. 

Thank you, 

Emilie Surrusco