The Home They Want to Escape: New Immigrant Mothers Seek Survival from Domestic Violence
Ahead of Mother's Day, a report highlights the plight of new immigrant mothers in Taiwan suffering from domestic violence, who struggle to access social support due to language barriers, lack of legal knowledge, and fear of losing child custody. Although legal amendments now guarantee their right to stay after divorce, information dissemination remains a challenge.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 16:13
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Special Report on New Immigrant Mothers Seeking Survival from Domestic Violence (3 parts in total)
Central News Agency
Mother's Day is approaching, and many families are preparing to celebrate the holiday, but new immigrant mothers suffering from marital violence are in painful struggles. Although Taiwanese law now guarantees their right to stay in Taiwan after divorce, limited by language barriers, unfamiliarity with the law, and fear of losing child custody, many victims suffer alone on the fringes of the social safety net, daring not to seek external help. To embrace these wandering souls in distress, new immigrant sisters who have overcome difficulties share their experiences, encouraging other victims not to bear it alone, as professional counseling resources and legal aid are available in society. As long as they are willing to take the first step to seek help, they can find the strength to support themselves and rebuild a safe and dignified new life in Taiwan.
(Central News Agency reporter Shih Hsiu-chuan, Taipei, 9th) Mother's Day is approaching, and many families are preparing to celebrate the holiday, but for new immigrant mothers experiencing marital violence, home is the place they most want to escape. Although the law now guarantees their right to stay in Taiwan after divorce, language barriers, lack of legal understanding, and fear of losing children keep many trapped in domestic violence.
According to research published last year by Professor Lin Ming-jen's team at National Taiwan University, victims endure domestic violence for an average of 4.2 years before reporting it. CNA recently interviewed three mothers from Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, witnessing their struggles for years on the fringes of the social safety net, desperately seeking an exit.
If Divorced, "What About the Children?"
A-Yue (pseudonym) from Vietnam said that when her ex-husband started hitting her, she had been married in Taiwan for over three years, and her second child had just turned one. At that time, she only had one friend in Taiwan, who accompanied her to report to the police. The police told her that she did not have a Taiwanese ID card and might have to return to Vietnam after divorce, and also advised her to forgive him since it was his first time in years.
For more than a year thereafter, despite police intervention and court-issued protection orders, A-Yue was subjected to domestic violence multiple times.
She said, "I was beaten again and again, even enduring it was useless."
Disheartened, she left home and moved into a shelter, but she couldn't let go of her two children. Occasionally, she would return home to visit, only to face violence again. With the assistance of social workers and pro bono lawyers, she obtained a Taiwanese ID card more than two years later and subsequently won custody of her children.
Now A-Yue works in a factory. She said, "I have saved some money to raise two children," and is very grateful to everyone who helped her along the way.
Indah (pseudonym), who married into Taiwan from Indonesia, also endured domestic violence alone for many years. It wasn't until her child told the teacher about the situation at home that she learned about the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "113 Protection Hotline."
Indah said that at that time, she did not have a Taiwanese ID card and wanted to know if she would be repatriated if she divorced. "What about my son?" She also thought of what her mother often said: "Don't talk about divorce at every turn, this is your fate. For the sake of the children, our family doesn't divorce easily." Amidst complex emotions, besides enduring, she didn't know what else to do.
The social safety net provided Indah with marital counseling and daily assistance, but her husband later had a car accident, and his temper became even more violent. It wasn't until he was diagnosed with cancer that his attitude softened. Indah chose to forgive, taking on the heavy burden of caring for her elderly mother-in-law, her husband with cancer, and her children, and also working multiple part-time jobs, only hoping that her husband could see their children graduate and that the children would have a better future.
Unconditional Right to Stay in Taiwan After Domestic Violence Divorce
Taiwan enacted the "Domestic Violence Prevention Act" in 1998, the first in Asia, establishing a mandatory reporting mechanism and stipulating the government's responsibility to assist victims in rebuilding their lives. The legal system has become increasingly comprehensive, but for new immigrants, it is still not easy to successfully obtain support from the social safety net.
Hung Man-chih, chairperson of the TransAsia Sisters Association Taiwan, said that many victims, after being beaten, first hide at a fellow countryman's home, then return home for their children, only to be abused again and flee again, in a repetitive cycle. "There is no truly reliable place to deal with this unhealthy relationship."
In the past, like A-Yue and Indah, most foreign new immigrant victims dared not divorce for fear of being repatriated.
An amendment to the "Immigration Act" that came into effect in 2024 grants those who divorce due to domestic violence the right to continue residing in Taiwan. They only need to provide proof of reporting to the police, without needing minor children registered in Taiwan or a court-ordered divorce.
Li Ming-fang, a specialist commissioner at the National Immigration Agency, stated that new immigrants who divorce due to domestic violence can change their residency status to "other" reasons, without other conditions. Residence permits can be extended annually, with no limit on the number of times; after legally residing for five years, they can apply for permanent residency, without needing to meet financial or salary thresholds.
However, many new immigrants still do not understand this amendment, which has been in effect for about two years. Chou Hui-ying, executive secretary of the TransAsia Sisters Association Taiwan, expressed hope that the government will strengthen explanations in multiple languages and in a practical manner, so that victims clearly understand this right.
Seeking Help is Like Navigating a Maze
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 2024, there were 85,201 reported cases of intimate partner violence, with 63,122 victims, of whom 1,979 were foreign new immigrants. In the past five years, an average of 1,969 foreign victims have been reported annually. Considering unreported cases, the numbers may be underestimated.
After a victim reports, the case is referred to the local government in their place of residence, where a responsible social worker takes over, providing subsidies for interpretation, shelter, children's school transfers, legal aid, psychological counseling, and employment training assistance as needed.
Xiao-Ling (pseudonym), a new immigrant from China, described the initial process of seeking help as navigating a maze. For several months, she traveled with her child between the National Immigration Agency, the Straits Exchange Foundation, and district offices, but her questions were never answered.
She recalled that when she first contacted a social worker, she was concerned that the shelter was too far from her child's school and did not receive a clear response. "(The social worker) didn't say anything, so I didn't dare to go. At that time, there was a lot of fear of the unknown."
At that time, Xiao-Ling had already received her fourth protection order, and her husband's violence even frightened her child. She decided to move into a shelter. With the help of social workers, she handled the divorce, custody, and school transfer, and the mother and son finally had a safe home.
Xiao-Ling said that she hopes the social safety net can be more transparent when dealing with victims, so that victims don't have to take too many "detours."
Long-term Shortage of Interpreters and Social Workers
Xiao-Ling's process of seeking help involved much exploration, and the situation for victims who do not understand Chinese is even more difficult. Eliminating language barriers is the starting point for seeking help.
Hung Man-chih, who has long assisted new immigrant sisters on the front lines, said that the shortage of interpreters is a long-standing problem. "Sisters often cannot find interpreters," and even if they understand Chinese, it does not mean they can explain court letters, especially in rural areas.
Central News Agency
Mother's Day is approaching, and many families are preparing to celebrate the holiday, but new immigrant mothers suffering from marital violence are in painful struggles. Although Taiwanese law now guarantees their right to stay in Taiwan after divorce, limited by language barriers, unfamiliarity with the law, and fear of losing child custody, many victims suffer alone on the fringes of the social safety net, daring not to seek external help. To embrace these wandering souls in distress, new immigrant sisters who have overcome difficulties share their experiences, encouraging other victims not to bear it alone, as professional counseling resources and legal aid are available in society. As long as they are willing to take the first step to seek help, they can find the strength to support themselves and rebuild a safe and dignified new life in Taiwan.
(Central News Agency reporter Shih Hsiu-chuan, Taipei, 9th) Mother's Day is approaching, and many families are preparing to celebrate the holiday, but for new immigrant mothers experiencing marital violence, home is the place they most want to escape. Although the law now guarantees their right to stay in Taiwan after divorce, language barriers, lack of legal understanding, and fear of losing children keep many trapped in domestic violence.
According to research published last year by Professor Lin Ming-jen's team at National Taiwan University, victims endure domestic violence for an average of 4.2 years before reporting it. CNA recently interviewed three mothers from Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, witnessing their struggles for years on the fringes of the social safety net, desperately seeking an exit.
If Divorced, "What About the Children?"
A-Yue (pseudonym) from Vietnam said that when her ex-husband started hitting her, she had been married in Taiwan for over three years, and her second child had just turned one. At that time, she only had one friend in Taiwan, who accompanied her to report to the police. The police told her that she did not have a Taiwanese ID card and might have to return to Vietnam after divorce, and also advised her to forgive him since it was his first time in years.
For more than a year thereafter, despite police intervention and court-issued protection orders, A-Yue was subjected to domestic violence multiple times.
She said, "I was beaten again and again, even enduring it was useless."
Disheartened, she left home and moved into a shelter, but she couldn't let go of her two children. Occasionally, she would return home to visit, only to face violence again. With the assistance of social workers and pro bono lawyers, she obtained a Taiwanese ID card more than two years later and subsequently won custody of her children.
Now A-Yue works in a factory. She said, "I have saved some money to raise two children," and is very grateful to everyone who helped her along the way.
Indah (pseudonym), who married into Taiwan from Indonesia, also endured domestic violence alone for many years. It wasn't until her child told the teacher about the situation at home that she learned about the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "113 Protection Hotline."
Indah said that at that time, she did not have a Taiwanese ID card and wanted to know if she would be repatriated if she divorced. "What about my son?" She also thought of what her mother often said: "Don't talk about divorce at every turn, this is your fate. For the sake of the children, our family doesn't divorce easily." Amidst complex emotions, besides enduring, she didn't know what else to do.
The social safety net provided Indah with marital counseling and daily assistance, but her husband later had a car accident, and his temper became even more violent. It wasn't until he was diagnosed with cancer that his attitude softened. Indah chose to forgive, taking on the heavy burden of caring for her elderly mother-in-law, her husband with cancer, and her children, and also working multiple part-time jobs, only hoping that her husband could see their children graduate and that the children would have a better future.
Unconditional Right to Stay in Taiwan After Domestic Violence Divorce
Taiwan enacted the "Domestic Violence Prevention Act" in 1998, the first in Asia, establishing a mandatory reporting mechanism and stipulating the government's responsibility to assist victims in rebuilding their lives. The legal system has become increasingly comprehensive, but for new immigrants, it is still not easy to successfully obtain support from the social safety net.
Hung Man-chih, chairperson of the TransAsia Sisters Association Taiwan, said that many victims, after being beaten, first hide at a fellow countryman's home, then return home for their children, only to be abused again and flee again, in a repetitive cycle. "There is no truly reliable place to deal with this unhealthy relationship."
In the past, like A-Yue and Indah, most foreign new immigrant victims dared not divorce for fear of being repatriated.
An amendment to the "Immigration Act" that came into effect in 2024 grants those who divorce due to domestic violence the right to continue residing in Taiwan. They only need to provide proof of reporting to the police, without needing minor children registered in Taiwan or a court-ordered divorce.
Li Ming-fang, a specialist commissioner at the National Immigration Agency, stated that new immigrants who divorce due to domestic violence can change their residency status to "other" reasons, without other conditions. Residence permits can be extended annually, with no limit on the number of times; after legally residing for five years, they can apply for permanent residency, without needing to meet financial or salary thresholds.
However, many new immigrants still do not understand this amendment, which has been in effect for about two years. Chou Hui-ying, executive secretary of the TransAsia Sisters Association Taiwan, expressed hope that the government will strengthen explanations in multiple languages and in a practical manner, so that victims clearly understand this right.
Seeking Help is Like Navigating a Maze
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 2024, there were 85,201 reported cases of intimate partner violence, with 63,122 victims, of whom 1,979 were foreign new immigrants. In the past five years, an average of 1,969 foreign victims have been reported annually. Considering unreported cases, the numbers may be underestimated.
After a victim reports, the case is referred to the local government in their place of residence, where a responsible social worker takes over, providing subsidies for interpretation, shelter, children's school transfers, legal aid, psychological counseling, and employment training assistance as needed.
Xiao-Ling (pseudonym), a new immigrant from China, described the initial process of seeking help as navigating a maze. For several months, she traveled with her child between the National Immigration Agency, the Straits Exchange Foundation, and district offices, but her questions were never answered.
She recalled that when she first contacted a social worker, she was concerned that the shelter was too far from her child's school and did not receive a clear response. "(The social worker) didn't say anything, so I didn't dare to go. At that time, there was a lot of fear of the unknown."
At that time, Xiao-Ling had already received her fourth protection order, and her husband's violence even frightened her child. She decided to move into a shelter. With the help of social workers, she handled the divorce, custody, and school transfer, and the mother and son finally had a safe home.
Xiao-Ling said that she hopes the social safety net can be more transparent when dealing with victims, so that victims don't have to take too many "detours."
Long-term Shortage of Interpreters and Social Workers
Xiao-Ling's process of seeking help involved much exploration, and the situation for victims who do not understand Chinese is even more difficult. Eliminating language barriers is the starting point for seeking help.
Hung Man-chih, who has long assisted new immigrant sisters on the front lines, said that the shortage of interpreters is a long-standing problem. "Sisters often cannot find interpreters," and even if they understand Chinese, it does not mean they can explain court letters, especially in rural areas.