Victims of domestic violence in the US who are undocumented face a unique problem. Many feel they have no one turn to and they keep the abuse to themselves. They’re afraid call to the cops because of their uncertain legal status. But those who do call could be eligible for the little-known “U-Visa” program. Ashley Lopez reports on this story from Fort Myers, Florida.

Ashley Lopez is a reporter at WGCU, Southwest Florida’s NPR member station. She also splits her time as a reporter/blogger for the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. She was previously a political reporter at WLRN-Miami Herald News. A native Miamian, Lopez graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism and political science.