Imagine escaping persecution and death threats in your home country, just to be turned away once you reach El Paso. For many transgender migrant refugees, asylum in the United States is extremely important as it is a means for survival and a way to stay alive. Trans migrant refugees have been systematically targeted and discriminated against in Central and Latin America through acts of violence, war, discrimination, rape, kidnapping, trafficking, torture, assault, and death (Leyva- Flores, 2019). Currently, four LGBTQIA+ people are murdered every day in Central and South America. At least 1,300 LGBT+ people have been murdered in Latin America in the past five years, with Colombia, Mexico, and Honduras accounting for nearly 90 percent of all deaths (Moloney, 2019). Upon reaching the border, asylum seekers do not have resources such as cash in hand, food, extra clothing, shelter or medicine - basic necessities. It takes at least one year or more to attain a work permit. Within that time frame, there are very few legal opportunities that the population has within conservative environments such as the border towns of Texas or New Mexico (Howe, 2008). Trans migrant refugees have been unable to receive treatment, both medical and psychological, and have been turned away from receiving resources (including food, clothing, transportation, and housing) and ultimately left to fend for themselves in the streets of Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas (Mulder, 2021). 

By signing this petition you are saying that how trans migrant refugees are treated is NOT okay and the United States government and border control need to make policy changes to rectify this situation. Please visit https://rsanrelus.wixsite.com/transgenderrights for more information and ways to get involved.