WCADV speaks out on the Arizona immigration law

WCADV has taken two actions against Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which was recently signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Among other things, the legislation allows law enforcement officers to detain anyone that they reasonably suspect is present in the country without documentation.

The ACLU, other groups and citizens are challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1070. WCADV signed on to a legal brief discussing the chilling effect the legislation will have on immigrant victims. Research shows that immigration polices such as those included in Senate Bill 1070 result in victims choosing not to report abuse to the police and choosing not to seek help from victim service providers. The following is WCADV's statement of interest for the brief:

The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) is the statewide membership organization that represents local domestic violence victim programs and survivors. WCADV is committed to addressing the unique barriers that force immigrant domestic violence victims to remain with abusers. To that end, WCADV and its member programs assist victims with accessing federal immigration remedies, including VAWA self-petitions and U visas. SB 1070 will exacerbate the challenges and injustices immigrant victims face when attempting to live free of abuse and frustrate the federal immigration provisions upon which victims rely. As many victims and their children must flee across state lines, these effects will be felt in Wisconsin and across the nation.

Also at its June 21st meeting, the WCADV Board endorsed a statement regarding Senate Bill 1070.
As a voice for survivors of abuse, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) is opposed to the passage and implementation Arizona Senate Bill 1070. The law’s measures invite racial profiling, amplify the bigotry that surrounds the immigration issue and deepen the oppression of immigrant domestic violence victims in Arizona.

As an act of solidarity with immigrant victims and as a means to affect the repeal of Senate Bill 1070, WCADV encourages domestic violence victim advocates and programs to avoid travel to Arizona and patronizing businesses in that state.

State Supreme Court Accepts WCADV's Brief in Milwaukee Sick Pay Case

The Milwaukee Sick Pay Ordinance Case has made its way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. At dispute is a legal challenge to a Milwaukee ordinance--passed by 70% of voters--that would have given workers paid time of for health-related matters. The Ordinance specifically would have given victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking time off to seek services, legal protection or to relocate.

These specific provisions are at the heart of the case. The lower court invalidated the Ordinance because it found the sections dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence were not sufficiently related to public health objectives or within the meaning of referendum question on the ballot. WCADV and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault submitted a brief that refutes both of these rulings. You can read more about the case in previous blog posts. The brief is available here.