Dear Friend,

My name is Liza and I am a detention staff attorney at Immigration Equality. I want to thank you so much for your support of our lifesaving work. This holiday season, my thoughts are with the LGBTQ people still in immigration detention centers. These individuals followed the promise of freedom and safe haven in the U.S., but are being subjected to the exact opposite.

LGBTQ and HIV-positive people in detention are especially vulnerable. Tragically, many have faced instances of mistreatment, violence, and sexual assault while in custody. Moreover, the conditions of confinement are deplorable, and ICE often incarcerates asylum seekers for six months or more.

As a staff attorney at Immigration Equality, I work every day to secure the release of LGBTQ immigrants in detention – ensuring their safety and reuniting them with their loved ones. Thanks to you, Immigration Equality then assists those immigrants to find safety and community in the United States.

This year, because of your support, Immigration Equality spent 3,000 hours serving and liberating detained refugees. We also filed numerous complaints against DHS for mistreating immigrants and pushed forward national detention policy reforms.

Friend, won’t you help give the gift of freedom to LGBTQ asylum seekers?

Make no mistake -- we will continue to champion the rights of immigrants and fight for their safety, but we need your support! As we enter the new year, I hope you will consider joining me in the fight to release all LGBTQ and HIV-positive people from detention.

When you donate to the Immigration Equality Rapid Response Fund, your contribution plays an integral part in liberating our community. Thank you, and happy holidays! 

With gratitude, 

Liza Doubossarskaia, Staff Attorney
Immigration Equality