The typical VAWA filing had involved wives of US citizens or lawful permanent residents who were physically abused or subjected to extreme cruelty. According to USCIS, “these trends are alarming and unprecedented… When unqualified aliens misuse the VAWA program, it causes significant processing delays, harming survivors with legitimate claims. We are prioritizing the integrity of the immigration process and the VAWA program as a resource for women and other alien survivors of abuse.”In other words, people are filing VAWA claims when they are not eligible. In the same way, USCIS believes many people are filing VAWA claims when they were never really subjected to abuse or mental cruelty. My office has handled many successful VAWA claims, including claims by husbands against an abusive wife.

Source: Philippine Star February 14, 2026 16:39 UTC