Dear Friend, 

I’m elated. With assistance from our legal team, Yani—a lesbian fleeing persecution in Cuba—presented her case before an immigration judge this week. She won asylum and was released from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. As I write this, Yani is en route to see her partner, Dayana, in Arizona.

Thanks to you, we provided the following for Yani:

• Legal help while in detention
• Congressional sign-on letter led by Rep. Mike Quigley + 25 additional members who signed 
• Phone campaign to Louisiana ICE officials and elected leaders
• Petition to ICE with 2,000+ signatures
• Global press coverage about Yani’s case
• Assistance with her appearance before a judge

ICE denied Yani’s parole request FOUR times, citing her as a flight risk—despite the fact that she had multiple sponsors, community ties, and desperately wanted to be reunited with her partner, Dayana, so they could build a life together in America.

We cannot count on ICE to do right by asylum seekers like Yani, but we can continue to unite behind unjustly detained LGBTQ immigrants. Together, we will not only survive this unprecedented crisis, but we will also lay the groundwork for a more just America in the future.
 
Are you willing to keep fighting for all LGBTQ and HIV-positive asylum seekers? Donate now to power our life-saving legal team.