Navigating Intimate Partner Violence and Social Support Services: Testimonials of Latina Survivors

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has surged across the United States, with undocumented Latina immigrants from South and Central America disproportionately affected. The heightened immigration enforcement has further discouraged help-seeking, creating significant barriers to accessing formal support systems. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 15 undocumented Latina IPV survivors in Westchester County, New York. Drawing on seven in-depth, semistructured interviews, the study examined how participants navigate support with complex social and structural constraints. Findings are organized into three thematic categories: (1) engagement with public services, (2) utilization of nonprofit services, and (3) reliance on informal support systems. Consistent with prior research, participants reported turning first to informal sources of support due to the fear and stigma surrounding their legal status and the limitations of the systems meant to protect them. These findings highlight the urgency for culturally responsive, trauma-informed interventions and policies that reduce systemic barriers and services for undocumented Latina survivors of IPV.