Immigration IS a women's issue. The common perception of the undocumented immigrant is a young male here by himself -- the day laborer. In fact, immigrant women make up 50 percent of the foreign born population in the U.S., according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Migrant women face the same issues as other women in this country, but are more vulnerable to certain forms of exploitation and abuse. For instance, immigrant women are more likely than men to be exposed to forced labor, sexual exploitation or rape, forced prostitution and other kinds of violence. They are more likely to accept hazardous work conditions and low salaries that are many times below the mandated minimum wage. Many are exposed to serious health risks, such as women working in the maquila factories and other jobs with dangerous or unhealthy working conditions.  As if this wasn't enough, immigrant women are often separated from their children and families for years at a time, even as they take on jobs like caring for the children of more privileged women.

In many cases, immigrant women have fled gender-based violence in their homelands, only to be further victimized in this country. Women who live with abusive partners may be afraid to report them for fear of being deported. They are often unaware of their rights or remedies (such as they are) due to language barriers and the hostile anti-immigrant climate in this country.  As a consequence, they live in the shadows and are often too afraid to call the police.

"Many of the people who come to the U.S. have fled unimaginable conditions. Some of the most traumatized people I've met in my work didn't come from a war zone, though, but rather from intense, enveloping situations of domestic abuse of the kind that go unchecked in countries with traditions of machismo and corrupt and uncaring police." --Dave Bennion, pro-migrant activist and attorney who moderates the Immigration blog at Change.org

Yet, the mainstream women's movement has been largely silent on the issue of immigrant women's rights: 

"The violence and abuse immigrant women face on a daily basis in the United States are challenged, mostly in solitude, by the immigrant rights movement. By and large, the women's movement has failed to stand in solidarity with the women who suffer under anti-immigrant activity. Why haven't more women leaders and women's organizations added their voices to the national dialogue and opposed the push for stricter immigration enforcement practices and the dehumanization they portend?" -- Melissa Nalani Ross, pro-migrant activist with Campaign for a United America.

However, the aim of this action is not to point fingers, but to raise awareness. I applaud the many feminists out there who are doing wonderful work on behalf of women. However, there is often a deafening silence when it comes to the rights of immigrant women. We must begin by educating ourselves so that we can become more effective advocates for women's rights...for ALL women, not just the privileged few. 

I invite you to spend some time checking out the immigration blog at change.org to see how immigrant women are victimized on a daily basis - from the dangerous border crossing to ICE raids to the abuses and exploitation taking place from sweat shops to prisons. At every stage of the immigration process, migrant women are vulnerable to worst forms of abuse. Check out the following blogs:

Immigration blog at Change.org:

http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/ice_denies_rape_victims_access_to_abortion


Immigration Talk with a Mexican American:

http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/

International Law Girls blog on immigration:

http://intlawgrrls.blogspot.com/search/label/immigration

Latina Lista:

http://www.latinalista.net/palabrafinal/

The pledge is pretty simple: Raise awareness in your communities and in your women's circles. Start by educating yourself about how immigration is a feminist issue, then commit to getting this message across to other women's groups. Think about advocating for the rights of immigrant women, as well as other poor and disenfranchised women. Women should be in the forefront of this struggle.

Happy International Women's Day to all the dedicated women activists at Change.org!!  Thank you for your support.