New group takes on immigration issues
New group takes on immigration issues
By Gary Barlow
Copyright by tHe Chicago Free Press
The recently formed Chicago LGBTQ Immigrant Alliance held a public forum in Pilsen May 25 that featured experts from various agencies discussing issues related to immigrants and HIV/AIDS, asylum, domestic violence and gender identity.
“The immigration process is incredibly complicated,” said attorney Kate Miller, of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago. “It’s very confusing and it’s very difficult to simplify the process.”
About 50 people attended the forum, held at the Rudy Lozano branch of the Chicago Public Library.
Angela Hernandez, of the Midwest Immigrant and Human Rights Center, said immigrants are often victimized by domestic violence and are eligible to petition for help under federal laws. But, Hernandez said, federal officials have not made existing laws work for immigrants as Congress intended.
Elissa Steglich, also of MIHRC, discussed the factors that allow some GLBT immigrants to apply for asylum in the United States if their lives are threatened by homophobic violence in their home countries.
“It cannot just be mere harassment, but an actual threat to your life or livelihood,” Steglich said.
Cole Thaler, an attorney who works on transgender issues for Lambda Legal, said transgenders have made successful asylum requests in the U.S. Thaler said U.S. immigration officials also recognize transgenders’ marriages if those marriages are valid in a couple’s home country.
By Gary Barlow
Copyright by tHe Chicago Free Press
The recently formed Chicago LGBTQ Immigrant Alliance held a public forum in Pilsen May 25 that featured experts from various agencies discussing issues related to immigrants and HIV/AIDS, asylum, domestic violence and gender identity.
“The immigration process is incredibly complicated,” said attorney Kate Miller, of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago. “It’s very confusing and it’s very difficult to simplify the process.”
About 50 people attended the forum, held at the Rudy Lozano branch of the Chicago Public Library.
Angela Hernandez, of the Midwest Immigrant and Human Rights Center, said immigrants are often victimized by domestic violence and are eligible to petition for help under federal laws. But, Hernandez said, federal officials have not made existing laws work for immigrants as Congress intended.
Elissa Steglich, also of MIHRC, discussed the factors that allow some GLBT immigrants to apply for asylum in the United States if their lives are threatened by homophobic violence in their home countries.
“It cannot just be mere harassment, but an actual threat to your life or livelihood,” Steglich said.
Cole Thaler, an attorney who works on transgender issues for Lambda Legal, said transgenders have made successful asylum requests in the U.S. Thaler said U.S. immigration officials also recognize transgenders’ marriages if those marriages are valid in a couple’s home country.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 7:54 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home