In April 2011, NIJC filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (OCRCL) on behalf of 13 gay and transgender immigrants to seek an investigation into the systemic abuses against sexual minorities in the U.S. immigration detention system. The complaint received significant media attention.
The Arizona Republic: ACLU decries danger for gay migrants in Pinal County jails (6/24/2011)
The Orange County Register: Hormone therapy for transgender immigration detainees? (5/25/2011)
Univision- Al Punto con Jorge Ramos: NIJC client Raquel Gomez tells her personal story and the harsh abuse LGBT immigrants endure in immigration detention along with Director of Legal Services Mony Ruiz-Velasco.(5/22/11)
Associated Press- republished by over 100 news websites including ABCnews.com, Miami Herald, Washington Post, Google and Yahoo! News: Group Alleges Abuse Because of Sexual Orientation (4/13/2011)
The Orange County Register: Gay, transgender immigrant detainees claim abuse in O.C. jails (4/14/2011)
OC Weekly: Transgendered, Gay ICE Detainees Sue Over Treatment at Theo Lacy Jail (4/15/2011)
Chicago RedEye / Chicago Tribune: LGBT abuse alleged (4/13/2011)
Windy City Times: NIJC files mass civil rights complaint on behalf of LGBT immigrant detainees (4/13/2011)
Northwest Herald: County jail named in abuse complaint (4/15/2011)
ILW.com: Report: Obama Administration Abusing LGBT Immigrants in Detention (4/14/2011)
KALW News: Complaint alleges abuse of LGBT detainees in ICE lockups (4/14/2011)
Houston Press: Houston Immigration Facility Accused of Harassing Gays (4/13/2011)
Wisconsin Public Radio: Kenosha officer harassed detainee (4/14/2011)
LGBT Asylum News: In US, violent, sexual abuse of LGBT refugee detainees draws too little attention (4/16/2011)