Res. No. 199
Title
Resolution urging the United States Department of Homeland Security to investigate abuse allegations and take action to ensure the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender immigrants in the custody of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Body
By Council Member Dromm
Whereas, There are approximately nine million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals living in the United States (U.S.); and
Whereas, The Williams Institute of the University of California Los Angeles School of Law reported in 2013 that there are approximately 267,000 LGBT adult, undocumented immigrants and 637,000 adult LGBT authorized immigrants the U.S.; and
Whereas, Many LGBT immigrants came to the U.S. to escape persecution, torture, or death in their home country on account of their sexual orientation or gender identity; and
Whereas, In December 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted approximately 143,470 arrests and 226,119 deportations in Fiscal Year 2017; and
Whereas, The DHS also reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted 310,531 apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2017; and
Whereas, ICE reports that in Fiscal Year 2017 the average daily population in its immigration facilities was roughly 38,000 detainees, a number which may increase to 48,000 detainees daily if President Trump secures the additional funding included in his Fiscal Year 2018 budget; and
Whereas, According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), there were over 200 allegations of sexual abuse in immigration detention facilities reported between 2009 and 2013, many of which were allegations of abuse against LGBT immigrants; and
Whereas, According to the Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), sexual abuse is widespread in immigration detention facilities and ICE officials are unw...
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