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Written by admin
Feb 10, 2011
Immigration Equality, a national organization that helps obtain asylum for individuals persecuted in their home country based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV-status, won a record 101 cases in 2010. An overwhelming number of those wins – 38 – were for clients from the Caribbean, with 28 of those for individuals from Jamaica. Other cases included 24 asylum seekers from Central and South America; 16 from Eastern Europe (including seven Russian clients); nine from the African continent and five from the Middle East.
Since the mid-1990s, the United States has recognized persecution due to sexual orientation and gender identity as a basis for seeking asylum. In the past five years, Immigration Equality and its partner law firms have represented more than 500 LGBT people fleeing persecution abroad. Clients have hailed from some of the most notoriously homophobic countries in the world, including Uganda, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere.
For too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the world remains a dangerous place. In many cases, the clients who turn to Immigration Equality for help are literally running for their lives. They have been mistreated and beaten by authorities in their home country, disowned by their families and ostracized by society. By offering them safe haven, the United States is not only saving their lives, but benefitting from the talent, skills and service these people bring to our country. We are proud, and honored, to help them begin life anew here in their adopted homeland.
Immigration Equality maintains the largest pro bono network of attorneys – in addition to its in-house legal staff – dedicated solely to securing asylum for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers. Firms providing pro bono representation for Immigration Equality clients include Dewey & LeBoeuf; Jones Day; Kirkland and Ellis; Latham Watkins; Ropes and Gray; Skadden; Weill Gotshal; and White & Case. In addition to the 2010 wins announced, the organization has 97 additional cases filed in 2010 that are awaiting a ruling, as well as several cases filed prior to 2010.
Rachel B. Tiven, executive director Immigration Equality
