Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, along with attorneys general from 20 other states and the District of Columbia, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that ensures continued access to critical services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. The agreement prevents the DOJ from imposing restrictions on Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds that support these survivors.
Last month, the coalition filed a lawsuit against the DOJ after it introduced new conditions requiring survivors to immediately prove their immigration status in order to receive legal services funded by VOCA and VAWA. The coalition argued that this requirement would cut off essential support for many victims who could not provide such documentation.
Following the lawsuit, the DOJ reversed its position and agreed to a binding resolution. This resolution guarantees that federal restrictions will not be applied to state-administered VOCA Victim Assistance and VAWA funds, allowing survivors to continue accessing services regardless of their immigration status.
“With this agreement, the Trump Administration is effectively surrendering, as well they should, for attempting to withhold critical funding for victims of sexual and domestic violence,” said Attorney General Neronha. “When a victim seeks help, the first question can never and will never be concerning their immigration status. Our coalition has been overwhelmingly successful thus far in preventing the potential harm from this Administration’s worst instincts, and we will continue to fight, and win, on behalf of Americans everywhere.”
For years, VOCA and VAWA programs have supported states in providing aid to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other violent crimes. These grants fund services such as legal representation for protective orders or custody matters; housing assistance; relocation help; civil legal aid; and urgent support through rape crisis centers. Congress designed these programs so all eligible survivors could access them without regard to immigration status.
In October, after DOJ informed states that VAWA or VOCA funding could no longer be used for undocumented immigrants’ legal services—including existing grants—the attorneys general warned this would create severe challenges for service providers who do not track immigration status. They also argued that requiring proof before offering help could endanger victims.
As part of today’s agreement resulting from the lawsuit, DOJ confirmed it will not apply these restrictions to any current VOCA Victim Assistance or VAWA grant awards. The coalition is voluntarily dismissing its lawsuit but retains the right to refile if similar restrictions are attempted again.
The stipulation was joined by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington State—and the District of Columbia.
