IMMIGRATION EQUALITY

LEGAL SERVICES - IMMIGRATION EQUALITY PROVIDES DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND HIV-POSITIVE (LGBTQ/H) IMMIGRANTS. WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO MORE THAN 500 LGBTQ/H INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR IN-HOUSE LEGAL TEAM AND NATIONWIDE PRO BONO NETWORK. OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND TRAIN PRO BONO ATTORNEYS ON HOW TO REPRESENT THEIR ASYLUM CLIENTS. OUR LEGAL TEAM ALSO REPRESENTS LGBTQ/H ASYLUM SEEKERS DETAINED IN IMMIGRATION JAILS, SECURING THEIR RELEASE, REPRESENTING THEM DIRECTLY OR HELPING THEM SECURE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO HELP THEMSELVES.TRADITIONAL REFUGEE PROGRAMS OFTEN MISS LGBTQ/H PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THEY FACE. WE CREATE NEW WAYS FOR LGBTQ/H REFUGEES TO FIND RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. WORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY REFUGEES IN NEED, WE CAREFULLY REVIEW CASES AND PREPARE REFERRALS FOR THE U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM (USRAP) AND OTHER RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS. SINCE OUR PROGRAM LAUNCHED, WE'VE HELPED LGBTQ/H REFUGEES FROM COUNTRIES INCLUDING AFGHANISTAN, COLOMBIA, EGYPT, EL SALVADOR, IRAN, IRAQ, GUINEA, KENYA, RWANDA, SOMALIA, SOUTH SUDAN, SYRIA, AND UGANDA.

OUTREACH - IMMIGRATION EQUALITY'S COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION EFFORTS FOCUS ON THE DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY ON LGBTQ/H IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WHAT THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORTERS CAN DO TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE. IMMIGRATION EQUALITY'S COMMUNICATIONS TEAM SECURES COVERAGE IN HUNDREDS OF OUTLETS EACH YEAR, ACROSS PRINT, DIGITAL, TV, AND RADIO. OUR WEBSITE ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS PER YEAR, AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ARE FOLLOWED BY MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE. ADDITIONALLY, IMMIGRATION EQUALITY'S EMAIL LIST REACHES UP TO 20,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH WEEK.