Ugandan Artist Brings Asylum LGBTQ Dialogue to San Francisco Debut

LEILAH BABIRYE Gwe Is Ye Nze, Lekka Mbele Nze (You Are Not Me, Let Me Be Me) 15 January – 28 February 2020 Artist dialogue with human rights advocate Melanie Nathan: Saturday 18 January, 10 AM  Rebecca Camacho Presents 794 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94109 UNTITLED, ART San Francisco  Booth C11 16 January – … More Ugandan Artist Brings Asylum LGBTQ Dialogue to San Francisco Debut

African HRC Urges Caution with Introduction by the US Senate Global ACT

While in general I am  pleased that we are covering some serious issues, make sure manner and implementation is not imposing – Melanie Nathan of African Human Rights Coalition  is urging caution on LGBTQI Global Rights – Melanie Nathan The Washington Blade Notes: “Three U.S. senators on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require the … More African HRC Urges Caution with Introduction by the US Senate Global ACT

UK Home Office Abuses against LGBT Asylum Seekers Highlighted in New Report

Home Office accuses LGBT church-goers of contradiction. Ban on working and financial destitution forcing LGBT people in need of refugee protection to become dependent upon homophobic acquaintances. Asylum process creating ‘Catch 22s’: LGBT people who don’t know they can claim asylum are then penalised for delays in submitting their applications. A new report has found … More UK Home Office Abuses against LGBT Asylum Seekers Highlighted in New Report

CFI Hosts Educational and Community Screening in Marin of Award Winning Documentary UNSETTLED

Dear Friends, African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC) is proud to announce its partnership with California Film Institute (CFI) for the upcoming free community impact and educational screening of the award-winning feature documentary Unsettled: Seeking Refuge in America, in Marin County, California. You are invited to the screening! Bay Area filmmaker Tom Shepard’s powerful new documentary tells the untold stories … More CFI Hosts Educational and Community Screening in Marin of Award Winning Documentary UNSETTLED

TPS Lawsuit: March to Protest Trump Attempt to Deport 400,000 Long-Term Residents

Immigrants & Allies March – March to Precede Hearing on Appeal of Ninth District Court Decision that Temporarily Blocked Cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)  On August 14, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear a Trump administration challenge to a preliminary injunction – issued by a federal court last year — that prevented … More TPS Lawsuit: March to Protest Trump Attempt to Deport 400,000 Long-Term Residents

Tom Shepard’s UNSETTLED Wins Prestigious OUTFEST, Los Angeles Award

With special thanks to the featured asylum seekers and refugees Mari, Cheyenne, Junior and Subhi, for having the courage and fortitude to tell your stories before you had barely landed! Dear Friends, This week I had the great honor of accepting the OUTFEST Los Angeles 2019 juried Best Feature Documentary award for the Film UNSETTLED … More Tom Shepard’s UNSETTLED Wins Prestigious OUTFEST, Los Angeles Award

Planned Raids – Helping Immigrant Communities – What You Can Do

After postponing last month’s planned immigration sweep, the Trump Administration is now preparing to launch a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across major U.S. cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco. These raids, which are scheduled to commence on Sunday, will harm … More Planned Raids – Helping Immigrant Communities – What You Can Do

Trump Cruelty sets in as ICE prepares to Raid Families

The Washington Post is reporting that Donald Trump has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct a mass roundup of migrant families that have received deportation orders, an operation that is likely to begin with predawn raids in major U.S. cities on Sunday, according to three U.S. officials with knowledge of the plans. … More Trump Cruelty sets in as ICE prepares to Raid Families

MASK 01: UNHCR System is Not Working for Persecuted LGBTI Refugees

7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 01 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! For the past ten years I have been working with LGBTQ individuals and communities in several African Countries in the global attempt to thwart homophobia and deal with … More MASK 01: UNHCR System is Not Working for Persecuted LGBTI Refugees

Trump White House Targets Asylum Seekers with Cruel Memorandum

This week the White House issued a presidential memorandum calling on the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to issue regulations that would impose onerous financial burdens on asylum seekers, undermine credible fear proceedings, and force judges to rush cases through the immigration court system, at the expense of due process. If enacted, … More Trump White House Targets Asylum Seekers with Cruel Memorandum

NQAPIA Call to Critical Action on behalf of Reuniting Families

DO IT! This could be the single most meaningful call to Action of this political era – Its families, its children, its LGBTQI!!! Hi friends please visit the NQAPIA website– to see the fabulous work they are doing and take heed of this new action. See the link below.  This is an important action request … More NQAPIA Call to Critical Action on behalf of Reuniting Families

Queering BREXIT

Gender and Queer Perspectives on Brexit Editors: Dustin, Moira, Ferreira, Nuno, Millns, Susan (Eds.) “On 24 June 2016, many people had the feeling that they woke up in a country prone to isolationism and protectionism, risking hurting its economic and social development for the sake of imperial nostalgia and moral panic about ‘loss of sovereignty’ … More Queering BREXIT

Liberian Immigrants Sue Trump over Humanitarian Protection

BOSTON, MA –The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Lawyers for Civil Rights jointly filed a lawsuit today challenging President Donald Trump’s termination of humanitarian protection and relief for immigrants from Liberia. The lawsuit, the first of its kind in the country, was filed on behalf of African Communities Together (ACT), the UndocuBlack Network, … More Liberian Immigrants Sue Trump over Humanitarian Protection

LGBTQ Asians Defend California’s Sanctuary Laws

Amicus brief urges US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to Block Trump Administration’s Challenge to CA Laws Protecting Undocumented Immigrants Today, March 13, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit hears oral arguments in U.S. v. California, the Trump Administration’s lawsuit against California’s sanctuary laws that regulate state employers and law enforcement to protect … More LGBTQ Asians Defend California’s Sanctuary Laws

ACLU Letter to the UN on Death of Migrant Child at the hands of Trump Administration

ACLU LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF MIGRANTS CONCERNING THE DEATH OF MIGRANT CHILD FELIPE GÓMEZ ALONZO This letter calls on the U.N. human rights expert to examine U.S. failure to conduct an independent investigation into Felipe’s death in CBP custody. The letter also calls attention to U.S. government failure to … More ACLU Letter to the UN on Death of Migrant Child at the hands of Trump Administration

Groups File Lawsuit Against Trump Policy Forcibly Returning Asylum Seekers to Mexico

San Francisco, CA (February 14, 2019) –- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s new policy forcing asylum seekers to return to Mexico and remain there while their cases are considered. “The Trump administration is forcibly returning asylum … More Groups File Lawsuit Against Trump Policy Forcibly Returning Asylum Seekers to Mexico

Danger for Asylum and Children with the Trump-McConnell Bill

CGRS Calls on Senate to Reject Trump-McConnell Bill, Reopen Government San Francisco, CA (January 24, 2019) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) urges the Senate to reject the “End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act,” which was introduced by President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier this week. The Trump-McConnell … More Danger for Asylum and Children with the Trump-McConnell Bill

Condemnation of New Illegal Migration Protection Protocols

San Francisco, CA (December 20, 2018) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) denounces the new Migration Protection Protocols (MPP) announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this morning. Under this new policy, asylum seekers arriving at the United States’ southern border will be forced to wait in Mexico for the duration … More Condemnation of New Illegal Migration Protection Protocols

Court Rules Trump Policies Denying Asylum Protections to People Fleeing Domestic and Gang Violence Are Illegal

Washington, D.C. (December 19, 2018) – A federal court has struck down Trump administration policies that sought to gut asylum protections for immigrants fleeing domestic violence and gang brutality. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) challenged the administration’s new “expedited removal” policies when they were put forth by then-Attorney General … More Court Rules Trump Policies Denying Asylum Protections to People Fleeing Domestic and Gang Violence Are Illegal

Passionate Residents call on Marin BOS for County Sanctuary at TRUTH Forum

The Truth Act, signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in September 2016, requires local governing bodies in which local law enforcement has provided ICE access to an individual to hold a community forum to receive and consider public comment. Last night the Marin County Board of Supervisors held such a forum at the Civic … More Passionate Residents call on Marin BOS for County Sanctuary at TRUTH Forum

Marin Fair Housing Discrimination Case Settled

Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California and Client Settle National Origin Discrimination Complaint San Rafael, CA – Late last month, Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) and one of its clients settled a complaint alleging discrimination based upon national origin that had been filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing against Continuum … More Marin Fair Housing Discrimination Case Settled

Donald Trump Proclamation Set to Shut Down Access to Asylum

Today Trump issued a new Proclamation with the new interim final rule which would shut down access to asylum for many individuals and families fleeing life-threatening persecution. The rule would specifically preclude from protection those who cross the United States’ southwest border between official ports of entry. If implemented, it would result in the deportation … More Donald Trump Proclamation Set to Shut Down Access to Asylum

Speaking Out Against Trump Asylum Seeker Political Stunt

VIA CNN:  United States President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed he would sign an executive order “next week” aimed at restricting US asylum rules, as he seeks to use a group of Central American migrants heading for the US border as part of his midterm election closing argument. He also suggested that the US troops … More Speaking Out Against Trump Asylum Seeker Political Stunt

Inter Parliamentary Union Votes to Ban LGBT Debate as led by Homophobic Ugandan Delegation

At the Legislators meeting in Geneva of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), a majority voted a ban debate on the subject of LGBT human rights  – and according to Ugandan reports this is a forever-enduring ban. Some nations brought the subject to the floor, in the hope of passing an amendment to include LGBT people in … More Inter Parliamentary Union Votes to Ban LGBT Debate as led by Homophobic Ugandan Delegation

Local Marin Leaders Mobilizing Against Cruel Immigration Changes

Homeland Security proposal would penalize those receiving public benefits Marin County, CA – Local community leaders are mobilizing in response to a new proposal from the Trump Administration that would penalize certain immigrants seeking to change their legal status if they receive public benefits or are deemed likely to become a “public charge” in the … More Local Marin Leaders Mobilizing Against Cruel Immigration Changes

Advocates Address Trump’s Executive Order and Republican Immigration Bill

Following President Donald Trump’s executive order on family separation – which does not end the family separation crisis – House Republicans are set to vote on Speaker Paul Ryan’s immigration bill next week.  Despite the speaker’s claims, the bill would provide no clear path to citizenship to Dreamers and place thousands of children in detention … More Advocates Address Trump’s Executive Order and Republican Immigration Bill

United Methodist Church Clergy File Child Abuse Charges Against Jeff Sessions

More than 600 United Methodist clergy and church members are bringing church law charges against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a fellow United Methodist, over a zero tolerance U.S. immigration policy that includes separating children from parents apprehended for crossing into the U.S. illegally, according to the United Methodist News Service. A June 18 letter signed by … More United Methodist Church Clergy File Child Abuse Charges Against Jeff Sessions