GOP bill would force deportation of undocumented domestic violence victims

[alp227]

According to immigrant advocates, a new immigration enforcement bill being considered in Congress would undermine existing immigration law by removing prosecutorial discretion and deferred action, two components that protect undocumented victims of domestic violence.

Michelle Ortiz — the supervising attorney of Lucha, a unit within the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center — says that Rep. Lamar Smith’s Hinder the Administration Legalization Temptation Act (better known as the HALT Act) would force immigration authorities to deport victims of domestic violence who reach out for help.

Smith, R-Texas, has said the HALT Act is necessary because President Obama is seeking “backdoor amnesty” for millions of undocumented immigrants. The bill is cosponsored by Florida Republicans Vern Buchanan, Richard Nugent and C.W. Bill Young.

According to Ortiz, Lucha “represents victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in their immigration matters,” and focuses its work on “South Florida, Broward, Miami-Dade, Naples and Fort Myers.”

“Under the Violence Against Women Act, which has existed for 15 years, there have been specific protections for victims of domestic violence,” Ortiz says, “particularly for people who self-petition, who are victims of domestic violence at the hands of a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.”

full: http://washingtonindependent.com/112510/gop-bill-would-force-deportation-of-undocumented-domestic-violence-victims

How can anyone with any amount of basic human dignity ever vote Republican? HOW?

[MadHound]

1. Hopefully Obama will veto this travesty,

Otherwise even more women will be abused, and simply not speak up.

[alp227]

2. maybe the senate will table it despite the Tea Party House passing it n/t

[Deep13]

3. GOP bill would run over kittens, kick babies, strangle Grandma and piss on Liberty's shoes.

cartoonishly evil