My partner is a first generation immigrant from Peru, and the immigration issues he has exposed me to have had a profound impact on the issue immigration rights for people who are LGBTQA+. If someone is fleeing persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or sex characteristics (LGBTQIA+), the United States should offer a reliable path to safety. No one should be sent back to a country where their life or freedom is threatened because of who they are.

Why this matters

Across the world, LGBTQIA+ people face state-sanctioned oppression and violence: criminalization, arbitrary detention, police abuse, “conversion” practices, forced marriage, and targeted mob or family violence where authorities refuse to protect them. When survival is at stake, America should stand for human rights and dignity.

The law we have—and the gaps

U.S. law already protects refugees and asylum seekers facing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a “particular social group.”
Courts and immigration authorities have long recognized LGBTQIA+ people as a valid “particular social group” for asylum claims, but access is inconsistent and often depends on luck—who interviews you, where your case is heard, and whether you can find a lawyer.

What I will fight for in Congress

1) Codify explicit protections for LGBTQIA+ persecution claims.
Clarify in federal law that persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or sex characteristics qualifies for protection—so outcomes don’t vary wildly by jurisdiction. (This builds on established “particular social group” recognition.)

2) Create a high-risk, fast-track pathway with full security vetting.
Prioritize LGBTQIA+ people facing urgent danger through refugee processing and targeted humanitarian parole—especially when someone cannot safely access a processing location. UNHCR guidance provides a framework for protecting SOGI-based refugees.

3) Fix the one-year asylum filing deadline for vulnerable applicants.
The one-year deadline can punish trauma survivors and people who fear being outed; while exceptions exist, they are applied unevenly. Congress should reform the deadline so it does not block credible claims where delay is tied to trauma, instability, or safety concerns.

4) Make the process safer, more humane, and more consistent.

• Trauma-informed training for asylum officers and immigration judges on LGBTQIA+ claims

• Strong confidentiality safeguards to prevent outing

• Alternatives to detention for vulnerable LGBTQIA+ applicants when appropriate

• Expanded access to counsel, especially for detained people

5) Use evidence standards that reflect reality.
Many applicants cannot safely obtain documents from oppressive regimes. Adjudications should rely on credible testimony plus country-conditions evidence—without stereotypes about how LGBTQIA+ people “should” look or live.

Integrity and security

This is pro-human rights and pro-rule-of-law: all applicants must undergo identity and security checks, and existing legal bars for serious crimes remain. The goal is a system that is fair, consistent, and worthy of America’s values. America should be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people fleeing oppression. I will fight for laws and procedures that protect lives, uphold human rights, and ensure no one is returned to persecution because of who they are.