Domestic violence is against the law. Call the police if you think you or your children are in danger. If the police ask about your immigration status or where you were born, you do not have to answer. If you want to leave, the police can help you and your children safely get out of the house, and a lot of times they can also drive you to a safe place. The police may arrest your husband/intimate partner if they think that a crime has been committed. If the police officer does not speak your language, find someone to interpret for you.

Always ask the police to make a report about what happened and get an "incident report number" so that you can get a copy of the report. Ask for and write down the name and badge number of the officer making the report. If your husband/partner is taken into custody, he may be released as soon as two hours. This will give you time to find a safe place to go. The police generally will not turn women reporting domestic violence into the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS).