Stop Abuse of Detained LGBT Immigrants

Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) filed 13 complaints in April 2011 with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Office of Inspector General demanding that the Obama administration investigate abuse allegations and take action to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) immigrants in DHS custody.

The 13 complaints describe violations including sexual assault, denial of medical and mental health treatment, arbitrary long-term solitary confinement, and frequent harassment by officers and facility personnel. The experiences of the courageous individuals who submitted complaints reflect the wrongful treatment suffered by hundreds of LGBT and other vulnerable immigrants in DHS detention facilities throughout the country.

The individuals who filed complaints all came to the United States to escape persecution in their native countries, only to face continued abuse in the immigration system. DHS cannot continue to detain people if the U.S. government cannot protect them.

In October 2011, NIJC filed with the government four additional complaints of abuse against detained LGBT immigrants, bringing the total number of complaints to 17 since April 2011.

Since NIJC filed the complaints, policy makers and advocates from across the country have come out to join us in defending the rights of LGBT immigrants in detention.

Links:

NIJC press release announcing the filing of civil rights complaint on behalf of 13 detained LGBT immigrants (April 2011)

NIJC cover letter for civil rights complaint (April 2011)

Proposed New York City Council resolution calling on DHS to investigate civil rights complaints (June 2011)

Letter from Lambda Legal and 16 other advocacy organizations calling on Obama administration to end abuse of detained LGBT immigrants (June 2011)

Letter from 38 members of the U.S. House of Representatives calling on DHS to investigate reports of abuse (June 2011)

NIJC update on response to the civil rights complaint (July 2011)

NIJC press release announcing the filing of four supplemental complaints of inhumane treatment of LGBT immigrant detainees (October 2011)

Letter from 28 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to the Government Accountability Office requesting an investigation into sexual violence in U.S. immigration detention system (January 2012)  

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