Published June 22, 2026
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The possibility of losing specialized services for immigrant women survivors of domestic violence mobilized dozens of members of Mujeres Unidas y Activas in front of Oakland City Hall on June 9. The concern arises after the Department of Violence Prevention distributed $38 million among 21 community organizations, excluding groups that had historically received support and significantly reducing resources allocated to domestic violence services and legal advice in Spanish.
Sofia Rerucha, a reporter for Radio Bilingüe, prepared this information.
Mujeres Unidas y Activas It is a community group that has supported Latina and Indigenous women in the Bay Area since 1989. On June 9th, they gathered outside Oakland City Hall. Their goal is to reverse the proposed budget cuts for 2027–2029, which would eliminate—for the first time in decades—all culturally relevant services for Latina and Mayan immigrant survivors of domestic violence.
The City of Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention recently awarded $38 million in grants to 21 community organizations. But several, such as Mujeres Unidas y ActivasThey are no longer among those who will receive support. According to the organization, the proposed plan allocates only 24% of the funds to domestic violence services, despite the fact that more than 3.000 Oakland residents report cases each year. This is compounded by a 50% cut in funding for legal counsel, including the only services offered in Spanish.
“Today I am here to share my story and ask you to consider the real impact these funds have on the lives of many people like me.”
She is Alicia Jimenez, a survivor of domestic violence who spoke at the city council meeting.
“My daughter was born, my first child. And her father left me and didn’t want to take care of his daughter and threatened me.”
Compared to the three thousand cases reported each year, Mujeres Unidas y Activas She says it's an underreporting because reporting domestic violence is emotionally difficult and terrifying. In that sense, the defunding not only affects the Latino and Indigenous communities, but also the Black population in Oakland who suffer from gun violence.
"Thanks to this support, I can begin a new chapter in my life. Today, I am not only a survivor, but also a leader who supports other women going through similar situations. I have seen with my own eyes how this organization transforms lives, provides hope, and helps women and families find a path to safety and stability.
Immigrant women are less likely to report domestic violence, and about 1 in 3 Latinas has experienced it, according to a study. Esperanza United reporta clinic for survivors.
For them, culturally and linguistically responsive support is scarce. This is a determining factor in their ability to report abuse, as feeling comfortable talking about their experiences is more difficult if it's not offered in their native language. For Alicia, being surrounded by other Indigenous and Latina women helped her feel safer and more comfortable.
“I’ve finally managed to feel happy now because I’ve learned a lot and I know a little about this, which was very difficult before. But if it happens again, I can go back to this organization.”
Among those who will receive the municipal funds, there are no services for Latina and Mayan survivors, according to Mujeres Unidas y ActivasBut the organization will continue to offer its services without the subsidies.