Advocates Worry Mamdani May Be Weakening Anti-Domestic Violence Office

2026-05-11T12:43:21-04:00April 30th, 2026|

NY Times

“The new structure suggests that City Hall does not appreciate the difference between “safety in public” and “safety behind closed doors,” said Madeline Garcia Bigelow, the founder and managing director of the Domestic Violence Project at the Urban Justice Center.”

Fifty-One Percent: Heather Lothrop of the Domestic Violence Project

2025-07-28T10:51:11-04:00July 24th, 2025|

WAMC

"On this week's 51%, we speak with attorney Heather Lothrop of the Urban Justice Center about what immigrant survivors of domestic violence should know as they're planning to leave an abusive partner or bring them to court."

Majority Leader Farías’ TBI Training Legislation for First Responders Heard at City Council Health Committee Hearing

2025-07-07T10:53:04-04:00June 26th, 2025|

NYCC

“Survivors of intimate partner violence have been suffering invisibly from traumatic brain injuries for far too long...Most of which goes unreported because neither the victim nor first responders are aware of the dangers, and of course, symptoms are not visible bruises,” said Madeline Garcia Bigelow, Founder & Managing Director of the Domestic Violence

DHS Reverses Decision to Abolish Three Key Civil Rights Offices

2025-05-28T08:59:42-04:00May 23rd, 2025|

Public Citizen

“The Department of Homeland Security today announced that it will not abolish the Department’s Offices for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, or the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, reversing a previous move to shutter the offices...The reversal by DHS follows a lawsuit brought the Urban Justice Center [and others.]"

Protecting New York’s Most Vulnerable From Federal Attacks

2025-05-27T12:25:55-04:00May 7th, 2025|

City Limits

“The Trump administration’s scare tactics have been so ruthless that they have successfully inhibited those in need from seeking social service providers, leaving them further isolated and at-risk.” - UJC Project Directors Amy Leipziger, Madeline Garcia Bigelow, Abigail Anzalone

Civil Rights Groups Sue To Restore Jobs At Homeland Security Oversight Offices That Were Gutted

2025-04-28T11:57:47-04:00April 24th, 2025|

AP

“The lawsuit was filed Thursday by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, the Southern Border Communities Coalition, and [the Domestic Violence Project of the] Urban Justice Center.”

Homeland Agency’s Dismantling of Oversight Units Draws Lawsuit

2025-04-28T11:56:22-04:00April 24th, 2025|

Bloomberg News

“The nonprofits Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Southern Border Communities Coalition, and [the Domestic Violence Project of the] Urban Justice Center filed suit Thursday accusing DHS of violating the Constitution and federal law by torpedoing its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and other teams, last month.”

Attention-Seeking Bigot Claims Immigrants Are ‘Raping Our Women’ to Justify Bill That Could Harm Survivors

2025-02-03T12:41:29-05:00January 30th, 2025|

Jezebel

“Joy Ziegeweid, director of immigration legal services at the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project, told the outlet that nothing in the bill actually “[prevents] domestic violence or violence against women.”