Author Archives: Clement Lee

Sen. Schumer Calls for an End to Solitary Confinement for Gay & Lesbian Detainees

March 28, 2013 / by Clement Lee / Comments: 1

Under the pretext of safety concerns, ICE far too often places LGBT detainees in forms of solitary confinement that are indistinguishable from harsh disciplinary practices for violent and dangerous felons. One of Immigration Equality’s clients, a transgender woman named Marta (not her real name), was housed alone in a ten square foot cell at a Louisiana prison for 23 hours a day without access to phones, recreation, or human contact. Read more

Posted in Detention | 1 Comment

On International Women’s Day: Reflecting on an asylum client living with HIV

March 8, 2013 / by Clement Lee

Today, Immigration Equality stands in solidarity with women everywhere as the world gathers to celebrate International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is “A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women.” Read more

Posted in Asylum, Detention, Immigration Basics | Leave a comment

Tell DHS: Protect LGBT Detainees

February 20, 2013 / by Clement Lee / Comments: 4

Your comments will help remind the federal government of its duty to protect the vulnerable LGBT immigrants in its custody from sexual abuse and to let them know that the LGBT community cares about our most vulnerable members who are caught in the cross-hairs of an inhumane system. Read more

Posted in Detention, LGBT | 4 Comments

DHS Proposes New Detention Regulations

December 20, 2012 / by Clement Lee / Comments: 1

Yesterday, DHS published a set of regulations related to the application of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (“PREA”) in immigration detention facilities. Like PREA, these new regulations are intended to address the widespread problem of sexual abuse within the jails and jail-like facilities that DHS uses to detain scores of immigrants pending the outcome of their cases. Immigration Equality commends DHS for including a number of important protections for LGBT immigrants in these regulations. Read more

Posted in Asylum, Detention, Transgender | 1 Comment

Transgender Day of Remembrance: Honoring Asylum Seekers in Detention

November 20, 2012 / by Clement Lee / Comments: 1

Today, Immigration Equality salutes all our transgender brothers and sisters both in and out of detention, as well as all those who have lost their lives violently to gender identity-based persecution. We remember. Read more

Posted in Asylum, Detention, HIV/AIDS, Transgender | 1 Comment