Ayudame! Who can help me? the help-seeking decisions of battered undocumented latinas

This study considers the relationship between immigration status and the help-seeking behavior of Latinas victimized by intimate partner violence (IPV). In particular, comparisons were made within two areas: (1) help-seeking decision making and (2) experiences with police response. A representative sample of 173 battered Latinas was recruited: 119 with undocumented immigration status and 54 U.S. citizens. We found undocumented victims were more likely to ask for help from informal groups, while formal help-seeking did not differ regardless of immigration status. In addition, undocumented Latinas were significantly more likely to experience negative police response than their documented counterparts.