We advocate for trauma-informed laws, strengthen legal protections, and help survivors access the tools they need to heal and rebuild. Our work centers the voices of survivors, especially those who face systemic barriers like immigration status, language access, or housing insecurity. Because safety shouldn’t depend on your income, zip code, or ability to navigate a complex legal system.
Our work in this area includes:
Immigration Support for Survivors
Immigrant survivors of violence often face unique barriers to safety and justice. Through our LA VIDA (Legal Assistance to Victim-Immigrants of Domestic Abuse) program, we provide free legal support to help survivors seek protection without fear of deportation. Our services include:
- Assistance with VAWA self-petitions, U Visas, and T Visas.
- Culturally competent, trauma-informed legal advocacy.
- Support in Spanish and other languages through bilingual staff.
- Guidance on pathways to permanent residency for eligible survivors.
Strengthening & Enforcing Protective Orders
Protective orders are powerful tools, but they must be accessible, enforceable, and rooted in survivor safety. We work to ensure Virginia’s protective order laws are strong, survivor-centered, and consistently upheld across the state. Our efforts include:
- Advocating for improvements to protective order laws and court procedures.
- Ensuring survivors can obtain orders safely and quickly.
- Addressing enforcement gaps that put victims at risk.
- Preventing misuse of protective orders in family law or custody disputes.
Expanding Legal Support for Victims of Abuse
Survivors of domestic and sexual violence deserve legal tools and support systems that protect their rights and promote long-term safety. We’re working to expand access to trauma-informed advocacy across Virginia. Our work includes:
- Supporting policy efforts to fund legal services for abuse survivors statewide.
- Partnering with shelters and advocates to ensure holistic, survivor-centered care.
- Training attorneys and courts on the unique needs of survivors.
- Representing survivors in family law matters like custody, divorce, and support.
Our Family Advocacy Team
Naomi Y. Cordova
Legal Administrative Assistant of Legal Assistance for Victim-Immigrants of Domestic Abuse (LA VIDA)
Valerie L’Herrou, Esq.
Deputy Director of the Center for Family Advocacy
Staff Attorney, Family & Child Welfare
Vanessa Paster, Esq.
Managing Attorney of Legal Assistance for Victim-Immigrants of Domestic Abuse (LA VIDA)
Susheela Varky, Esq.
Director of the Center for Family Advocacy and Legal Assistance for Victim-Immigrants of Domestic Abuse (LA VIDA)
Justice and Protection for Immigrant Survivors
Featured:
LA VIDA
LA VIDA (Legal Assistance to Victim-Immigrants of Domestic Abuse) offers free legal assistance to low-income, undocumented or under-documented immigrant victims of domestic or sexual violence. LA VIDA helps eligible clients apply for visas with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Email LA VIDA
