Persecution and Asylum Challenges for LGBTQI

By Steve Bynum
IMMIGRATION-DETAINEE DIES
Gabriela Hernandez, executive director of the nonprofit New Mexico Dream Team, holds up an image Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Albuquerque, N.M, of a Honduran transgender woman who died while in U.S. custody last month. Immigrant and LGBT advocates gathered outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Albuquerque to protest migrant Roxsana Hernandez's death, which authorities say came after she developed symptoms of pneumonia, dehydration and complications associated with HIV. Mary Hudetz / AP Photo
IMMIGRATION-DETAINEE DIES
Gabriela Hernandez, executive director of the nonprofit New Mexico Dream Team, holds up an image Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Albuquerque, N.M, of a Honduran transgender woman who died while in U.S. custody last month. Immigrant and LGBT advocates gathered outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Albuquerque to protest migrant Roxsana Hernandez's death, which authorities say came after she developed symptoms of pneumonia, dehydration and complications associated with HIV. Mary Hudetz / AP Photo

Persecution and Asylum Challenges for LGBTQI

By Steve Bynum
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Amnesty International reports around 76 countries criminalize homosexuality. Many other countries persecute LGBTQ people despite having laws to protect them. Violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community in Central America has caused an influx of migrants to seek asylum in the U.S. Often times, these particularly vulnerable asylum seekers are met with no little to no resources, support, or understanding. Joining us to discuss is Michael Jarecki, a principal of the Law Office Michael R. Jarecki, LLC in Chicago. His firm specializes in U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law. Joining him is “Gabrielle” a trans asylum-seeker who will discuss their lived experiences. Jarecki and “Gabrielle” will participate in a public presentation, “If Not Us, Who?”. The panel discussion will focus on the worldwide struggle of LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers alongside. The event kicks off with remarks by U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley, and takes place on Thursday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. in Chicago.

Event sponsors include Rainbow Railroad, Center on Halsted, Windy City Times, and the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and is supported by Human Rights Watch’s Midwest chapter.