TJC Advisory to IMB's re: IMBRA

[Admin]

I received notice of this in mid-January and am tardy in getting it posted. Reference the attached IMBRA Compliance Advisory. It is being distributed to all IMB's for which Tahirih has contact information, along with this note:

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
The “International Marriage Broker Regulation Act” (IMBRA) is a federal law (signed in January 2006) that seeks to protect foreign women from abuse who come to the United States to marry men they meet through international marriage brokers (IMBs). It is a relatively new law and some IMBs have raised good questions regarding its requirements and parameters. In an effort to clarify IMBRA and support IMBs in their efforts to comply with IMBRA, please find attached an advisory prepared by the Tahirih Justice Center (Tahirih).
 
Tahirih is a legal advocacy organization that provides protection for women and girls fleeing human rights abuses. Since opening its doors in 1997, through direct legal services and social and medical referrals, Tahirih has assisted over 10,000 women and children fleeing abuses such as domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, torture, “honor” crimes, and forced marriage. Tahirih also works to pass laws, develop regulations, transform policies, and establish precedent to bring about systemic change that will ensure the long-term protection of women and girls from violence.
 
Tahirih led a national coalition that drafted and advocated for the passage of IMBRA, in an effort to protect foreign women using the services of international marriage brokers from abuse. We recognize that many matches made through international marriage brokers result in happy marriages.  To prevent those unfortunate situations of abuse, IMBRA provides critical information that women need to make informed decisions and to find help if they need it.
 
The attached advisory further explains IMBRA’s provisions and:
 

• Breaks down the definition of an “international marriage broker” and outlines how to determine whether a business falls within that definition;
• Summarizes what an international marriage broker must do to comply with IMBRA, and the penalties for non-compliance;
• Suggests “practical tips” to facilitate compliance; and
• Includes “notes” that give supplemental or background information about IMBRA’s provisions.

If you have questions, or suggestions for improvements to this Advisory, we invite you to contact us at policy@tahirih.org. To learn more about IMBRA and Tahirih’s work on this issue, please visit our website http://www.tahirih.org/advocacy/policy-areas/imb-campaign/.

Sincerely,
 
Jeanne L. Smoot
Director of Public Policy
Tahirih Justice Center
6402 Arlington Blvd, Suite 300
Falls Church, VA  22042
Office: 571-282-6161
Fax: 571-282-6162
www.tahirih.org