Why should the LGBTQIA+ Community fight for immigrant rights? The answer is simple. IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ARE TRANS RIGHTS! 🦋

During Pride month this year, our communities experienced a harsh clampdown on immigration. Many folks have taken to the streets to protest the unjust, cruel, and frankly, un-American actions. According to Pew Research Center, 23% of U.S. adults report worry that they or someone close to them could be deported, according to a survey conducted earlier this June. This number was at 19% back in March of this year.

Did you know? About three-in-ten U.S. residents (28%) are immigrants, or are U.S. born and have at least one immigrant parent. According to census data from 2024, immigrants constituted 15% of the country’s population, while second-generation Americans made up for another 13%. This amounts to a whopping 93 million people (Pew Research Center).

Transgender immigrants in the U.S. face unique challenges at the intersection of anti-immigrant and anti-transgender rhetoric and policies. They experience discrimination in employment, housing, and healthcare, and are disproportionately at risk for violence. Many are also asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their home countries. 

Here are some quick facts about Trans Immigrants living in California:

• An estimated 174,000 Transgender immigrants live in the U.S.
• Transgender immigrants comprise over one-quarter of California’s adult transgender population, for a total of 41,000 adults.
• 83% of trans immigrants in the U.S. have lived here for 10+ years.
• 27% of Transgender immigrants in California live in poverty.
• It is estimated that between 15,000 to 50,000 adults in the U.S. identify as both transgender and undocumented.

[Sources: UCLA Williams Institute; A4TE]

Among a population that is already highly marginalized, transgender immigrants are among some of the most vulnerable groups to discrimination and violence. Between our country’s current immigration laws, targeted discrimination and attacks against transgender people, transgender immigrants face greater instances poverty, unemployment, poor health, and psychological distress (Williams Institute).

These findings from the Williams Institute suggest that organizations serving immigrant communities in California should ensure that “services are inclusive of transgender people, including those who are older adults, sexual minorities, people of color, people who are single, married, and in relationships other than marriage, and people who have children” (Williams Institute).

Please see the following resources for assistance, or if you would like to donate to help uplift LGBTQ+ Immigrants. Pictured above is Trans Latin@ Coalition Founder, Bamby Salcedo, who is a proud trans migrant from Guadalajara, Mexico.

ACLU: @aclu_nationwide

Advocates for Trans Equality: @transequalitynow

California Immigrant Policy Center: @caimmigrant

Immigrant Defenders Law Center: @immdef_lawcenter

Lamda Legal: @lamdalegal

Trans Latin@ Coalition: @translatinacoalition

It is important to recognize that the protection of immigrants is protection of our transgender and greater LGBTQIA+ community. We stand with the people of Los Angeles (and all over the U.S.) who have sacrificed everything to be their most authentic selves. In the words of trans activist leader, Marsha P. Johnson, “There is no Pride for some without liberation for all.”

Please call 1-888-624-4752 to report sightings of I.C.E. in your neighborhood.

Thank you for reading the GenWell blog. You can read more about our team here. If you or a loved one is struggling on the journey with gender identity, we ask you to reach out via our contact form or call our office at (818) 855-1105. Your journey to your most authentic self starts here.

—The Gender Wellness of Los Angeles Team