Activists Protest Against the Detainment and Rampant Abuse of LGBTQ Immigrants

A number of organizations led a march  on May 27, 2015 to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington D.C. to protest the detainment of LGBTQ undocumented immigrants. The group, “#breakthecage”, said that LGBTQ detainees are subject to a greater degree of sexual and physical assault, solitary confinement, and lack of access to medical care than other detainees.

According to the group, there are nearly 300,000 undocumented LGBTQ immigrants. The activists are calling for their release as well as a halt in deportation and administrative relief for all LGBTQ detainees.

“ICE & U.S. Customs and Border Protection have failed to adequately protect our vulnerable communities and have further placed trauma and violence under their administration,” the group said on social media. “It is time ICE is put on trial for their human rights violations and that President Obama knows of the legacy he is leaving behind!”

The event was sponsored by The Trans Women of Color Collective, Casa Ruby, Immigration Equality, the National Center for Transgender Equality, United We Dream and the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project.