“This binding agreement ensures that survivors of crime and their families will continue to receive essential resources they need to rebuild their lives.
~Attorney General Raúl Torrez
Albuquerque, N.M. – Attorney General Raúl Torrez, along with a coalition of 20 attorneys general, secured an agreement this week with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ensuring the DOJ would not apply alarming restrictions to critical Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) services that support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. The agreement comes after the coalition sued the DOJ over unlawful conditions threatening to cut off critical legal services to individuals who could not immediately prove their immigration status. The coalition’s lawsuit forced the DOJ to reverse course, and the department has now agreed to a binding resolution that ensures survivors can continue to rely on this crucial support regardless of immigration status.
“This binding agreement ensures that survivors of crime and their families will continue to receive essential resources they need to rebuild their lives,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “It is unconscionable that our government would consider withholding critical care and assistance from those who need it. I have always fought to ensure that victims and survivors of crime have the resources, respect and support they deserve. If at any point the DOJ attempts to resurrect these stipulations, I will not hesitate to take legal action.”
For decades, the VOCA and VAWA programs have enabled states to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other violent crimes. These grants fund services that help survivors escape abuse and rebuild their lives such as:
- Legal representation for protective orders
- Custody and visitation matters
- Child support
- Housing and relocation assistance
- Civil legal assistance
- Rape crisis centers (VAWA)
Congress deliberately designed these programs to reach every eligible survivor, regardless of immigration status, because public safety depends on ensuring that all victims can seek help, report crimes and rebuild their lives without fear.
The coalition filed its lawsuit in October after the DOJ informed states that they could no longer use VOCA or VAWA funding to provide legal services to undocumented immigrants. The new “Legal Services Condition” applied not only to future awards, but also to grants that had already been issued, some dating back years. The attorneys general warned that the restriction would impose severe burdens on service providers, who do not collect or verify immigration status, and that forcing survivors to produce proof of status before receiving help would be dangerous and potentially impossible.
The agreement stipulates that the challenged restriction cannot and will not be applied to any current VOCA Victim Assistance or VAWA grant awards. Based on the binding stipulation, the coalition is voluntarily dismissing its lawsuit without prejudice, preserving the ability to refile if the DOJ attempts to revive this unlawful restriction in the future.
Joining Attorney General Torrez in this stipulation are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia.