Current Projects: Immigration
Immigration Forums
Principles on Immigration Reform
Documents in Language
Immigration Forums
The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) in collaboration with its members will be hosting lesbian/ gay/ bisexual/ transgender (LGBT) Immigration Public Forums in four different cities around the country in the month of March. The Forums are intended to open the gates to an inclusive public discussion of the current debate on comprehensive immigration reform and to educate LGBT Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and allied organizations on immigrant rights.
Topics for discussion about LGBT immigrants' rights will include: Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Gender, & Sexual Orientation; Asylum, Detention, Deportation Family Reunification & Legalization; Immigration Concerns for Bi-national Couples and Same Sex Marriage; The 2010 Census, Immigrants and LGBT Families.
Immigrant rights and LGBT immigrant rights are among the most contentious issues facing our communities and our nation. The issues involved are often oversimplified by the media and by elected officials with a particular agenda. This series of forums is intended to air the complexities of the issue as well as the diversity of needs facing immigrant and LGBT communities.
Speakers and organizers represent a range of perspectives. LGBT immigrants will share their personal narratives. Experts will provide technical and legal expertise. The audience will participate in the debate! Please join us and be part of this important discussion.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Asian American, South Asian, and Pacific Islander: Principles on Immigration Reform
There are almost 12 million Asian Americans, South Asians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States. 69% of them are immigrants. Countless AAPI immigrants are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). As the nation debates reforms to our broken immigration system, LGBT AAPIs urge dignity, fairness, and inclusion.
- • Strengthen All Families
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 35,000 same sex bi-national couples where one partner is a US citizen or legal permanent resident and the other is a foreign national. Immigration reform should promote family reunification and recognize bi-national same-sex couples. Immigrants and their partners or/and children should be together. Reforms must address the extensive backlogs in processing visas for family members living abroad of those living in the US. It must also allow US citizens to sponsor their same-sex immigrant partners for residency and citizenship.
- • Protect Workers
As LGBT people, we seek employment non-discrimination laws and anti-harassment policies, as well as protection from exploitation and harassment based on citizenship status, sexuality, or gender/ gender expression. Likewise, as immigrants we seek labor protections so that migrant and other undocumented workers are treated with dignity and respect. Many LGBT AAPI immigrants currently have professional worker visas, and they would benefit from expanded visa programs in the technology, science, and medical sectors that are ultimately tied to access to greencards and permanent residency in the US.
- • Preserve Civil Rights
Reforms must address the detention and deportation of immigrants. Many Muslim, South Asian, and Southeast Asians have been improperly racially profiled and have not been afforded constitutional due process protections. Recent immigration enforcement has torn families apart, targeted gay and transgender AAPI immigrants, and denied detainees medical care. Police misconduct is already a problem. Local police should not also be required to enforce complicated federal immigration laws.
- • Show Compassion
Immigration reform must include broad access to legalization for those who are undocumented. It should support undocumented young people seeking higher education. Many LGBTs from around the world have been persecuted in their home countries. They seek freedom from discrimination but the time to apply for political asylum is extremely short and should be lengthened. Immigrant women and girls are also exploited and increased enforcement of human trafficking is essential.
Documents are available for download:
To get involved in the campaign for immigrants’ rights, email nqapia at gmail.com.
