Dallas Immigration Attorney

Are You A Violence Victim?

Congress has realized that domestic violence is a problem in the immigration setting. A spouse may be subject to domestic violence or emotional abuse but be hesitant to report such crimes for fear of immigration consequences. This scenario most often arises when the spouse is acting as the sponsor of the foreign individual. These types of abuse have resulted in special laws such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). These laws are designed to protect women, men and children from the aggressive acts of family members. Our firm is very proud to participate in assisting victims of domestic violence obtain lawful status in the United States in accordance with these laws.

Knowledgeable Immigration Lawyer in Dallas

These cases often start in family courts or criminal courts. Sometimes even in criminal court, Mr. Mathur has shown in some cases that the person who is accused of being the aggressor is truly the victim. In one particular case, a woman was arrested for assault and subject to deportation. Mr. Mathur won the criminal trial, expunged the criminal records, applied for relief as a victim of violence and later acquired lawful permanent residence for the woman as a victim of domestic violence. In many other cases, Mr. Mathur used the family courts to take depositions (sworn statements) of witnesses or gather evidence to show the immigration service that the U.S. Citizen who had petitioned for the foreign spouse was an aggressor and that the foreign spouse should remain in the United States despite the citizens desire to have the spouse deported.

Congress has also passed special laws designed to protect and ensure status of person who have been victims of alien smuggling, victims of organized crime, victims of slavery or indentured servitude, victims of prostitution rings and witnesses to certain criminal events. Our firm has assisted such victims in acquiring status to remain in the United States legally. These laws were designed to allow such victims to come forward without fear of being deported from the United States. Our hope is that this intent is achieved.

Contact a Dallas Immigration Attorney at our firm as soon as you can if you have been a victim of violence.