Dear Friend,

As Executive Director, I have the privilege of bringing the staff together every Tuesday morning for a weekly meeting.

During those 45 minutes, it’s not uncommon to receive updates like: we won asylum for multiple LGBTQ refugees! We helped secure the release of a same-sex couple from ICE custody! And, we advocated before high-level government officials for policies that protect our community. This morning was no different. 

These weekly wins are significant by themselves, but taken together, they add up to a year of phenomenal impact. We could not have achieved this without you, our Immigration Equality family. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the life-saving work we do and the remarkable clients we serve. 

In 2021, you enabled us to keep advocating for LGBTQ immigrants and families in the U.S. while rapidly responding to the crisis for LGBTQ people in Afghanistan. This year, Immigration Equality:

• Served nearly 800 queer refugees and won asylum 99% of the time.
• Fielded over 2,000 calls for legal help on our detention hotline.
• Blocked Trump’s rule to abolish asylum in federal court.
• Won our campaign to change a discriminatory State Department policy denying citizenship to children born abroad to same-sex married couples.
• Fielded over 100 urgent requests for help from LGBTQ Afghans, and started an initiative to secure safe haven for them.

On behalf of our staff, board, families who fought discrimination, and the hundreds of queer, trans, and HIV-positive asylum seekers we serve, please receive our sincerest thanks.

Thank you, and happy holidays,

Aaron C. Morris, Executive Director 
Immigration Equality
 

P.S. Thank you to those who have answered the call and made a donation! We have raised a little less than half of our end of year fundraising goal of $300,000. With $160,000 to meet our goal, if you have not already, please consider making your annual donation before December 31st.