Violence, all kinds of violence. Is certainly in the news today. First, Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a bill that it seems most women would most likely support, called the “Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act,” which passed the House. But 156 Democrats voted against it. Why?
Some DV survivors are arrested by the police due to false accusations by the men who abuse them; some are arrested because they fight back, others because they called 911 and got an officer who only spoke English. I know this is the case because I have represented such women.
Though the title sounds good, and, quite frankly, when I see a victim’s abuser getting deported, I only hope that the victim is able to secure protection from deportation themselves. There is the avenue of the U visa, but, first, a victim must obtain the agreement of the office prosecuting the abuser, not always an easy task. Sometimes bills have well-meaning titles and objectives, but end up cutting too broad a swath.
Prayer for the Day
Cowering from violence, victims cry out for protection,
But often they find themselves victims again;
We cry, O Lord, for help against abuse many experience,
And pray that justice, real justice, will be done.
May our efforts to help not be turned upside down,
Causing more harm than good.
In the name of the One who reaches out to the hurt,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
[M]any well-intentioned officers are simply not trained properly concerning domestic violence in general. For these reasons, agencies should have specific, detailed policies and procedures regarding police response to domestic violence incidents.
Anne O’Dell, from J. Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
Dual arrests force women to choose between personal safety and a potential arrest, a major problem given the severity of the domestic violence epidemic
Claire Hodges, from Brown Political Review (2021)
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and God’s ears are open to their cry;
The face of the Lord is against evildoers, cutting remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from trouble,
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34: 15-18