In Olivia Salcido and Madelaine Adelman’s
article, “He Has Me Tied with the Blessed and Damned Papers”: Undocumented-Immigrant
Battered Women in Phoenix, Arizona. The authors argue that U.S policies are
oppressing immigrant women.
Many people from Mexico come to America in
search of better opportunities. And the reason for that is due to there not
being enough opportunities for growth and economic advancement in Mexico. In a
previous course, we talked about the International Monetary Fund (IMF). When
countries are experiencing economic trouble, the IMF will loan money to the country
with a list of incentives to receive that loan. And often the incentives revolve
the privatization of social benefits. By privatizing everything it enforces the
concept of individualism. And this affects women because if they have families,
they have to find solutions on their own. In terms having the money to pay for
education and health care for their children. Because of the debt in Mexico, people
try to leave for a better life.
Once women cross the border, they enter relationships
with men who are U.S citizens. Often, this could lead to them being able to
become U.S citizens down the road. As the authors discussed in the article, immigrant
women who are in abusive relationships cannot call the police for help. They
are fully dependent on their partners for safety and finances. So, when they
are subjected to abuse, they do not have the option of asking for help because
of the fear of being deported back to Mexico.
With the current political climate, the need
to keep immigrants out of the U.S is a big deal. And immigrant women in
particular, are affected the most by Trump’s presidency. Women have to undergo
harsh treatment and potentially rape, so that they will not be deported. If a
woman were to be sexually assaulted, nothing would probably happen to the perpetrator
because the woman is an immigrant. In January a male immigrant came forth and
said that while he was detained by ICE he was raped. He took the case to court
and received a settlement. But, was still deported. So, not exclude men from
the narrative, it happens to them as well.
I do not have a question, but it is really
unfortunate what immigrant women and men have to go through. The fact the U.S
refuses to accept immigrants as well as make it difficult for them to become U.S
citizens is sad. The hope would be that one day, immigrants from Mexico will
not have to experience this anymore. But, it just seems unlikely because of the systems of power created.
Yes, I agree with your statement on how unfortunate it is to have to go through this. Immigrant women who are in an abusive relationship most of the time just stay in that relationship because the fear of others things get in their way. Deportation is one of them, but lets not forget that also leaving the primary bread winner of these women it can be just as bad because they aren't able to obtain well paid jobs. It is really sad what immigrant women have to deal with because the US isn't able to give them support.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you pointed to the intersection of interpersonal violence and state violence that should be discussed in looking at domestic violence cases with undocumented women. In Salcido and Adelman's article for instance, they point to the case of Sonia and Sebastian in particular which is relevant to this point. Sonia, crossed the border, to escape Sebastian, but the violence was only further perpetuated by the fact Sebastian was of legal status and a coyote, giving him not only a pass to enter back and forth between the border, but a knowledge of the surrounding area. Sonia also did not qualify for asylum or protection despite the fear she had over her life and her children's lives. The United State's role as a negligent actor is a form of violence. Being that, the abuse Sonia endures at the hand of Sebastian and the impunity Sebastian enjoyed given his legality status in the US intersect, this creates a unique point of violence for Sonia.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you pointed out that women marry and stay with their husbands in order to obtain papers. Salcido and Adelman's article pointed out the threat that women feel by their husbands. this saddens me because they have to endure their husbands for a long period. The process for them to get citizenship is so long and draining and they have to stay with their partner for that long. It's like first they need their residency and if you are not married within the 3 years that it was issued they revoke it if you divorce. to apply for citizenship you need to have been a resident for 5 years. It is a very long process and the women endure it because by this time they have children and don't want to risk anything to leave them alone unprotected. This is just so heartbreaking!
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