President Donald Trumps second term has especially targeted two groups in particular: immigrants and LGBTQ people. On his first day in office, he ended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, which left thousands of refugees who had already been approved to live in the United States stranded.He also drastically lowered the cap on the number of refugees allowed to enter the U.S. from 125,000 to 7,500. Thankfully, Immigration Equality is here to help.For many decades, weve seen clients arrive with nothing but hope and fear, and walk out with safety and freedom, Anto Chavez, Immigration Equalitys communications director, told LGBTQ Nation. Its just becoming harder to fight, but were still here with them. We still hold their hand every step of the way. We have more than 700 active legal cases, our legal staff trains thousands of lawyers nationwide to represent queer immigrants pro bono, and we fight in the courts and Congress to expand protections. Related These LGBTQ+ refugees fled hatred & found safety in the US. Now theyre navigating Trumps America. Founded in 1994, Immigration Equality provides free legal help for immigrants and asylum seekers who are LGBTQ+ or HIV-positive. The group isfighting Trumps seemingly arbitrary executive orders on immigration in courts and winning.Chavez spoke with LGBTQ Nation about how the sociocultural landscape around immigration has changed now that Trump is back in office and what average citizens can do to fight for the rights of queer immigrants in our community. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today For forever, immigrant communities have learned how to take care of each other without relying on systems that have failed us. We have to continue to do that. We have to continue to fight. Anto Chavez, Immigration Equality communications directorLGBTQ Nation: What has changed under Trumps second term for immigrants applying for asylum to escape anti-LGBTQ persecution in their home countries?Anto Chavez: The anti-immigrant rhetoric has shaped the culture and the cultural shift in our country; this happened during Trumps term as well. But it really changes how queer immigrants even envision themselves in the U.S.At the beginning of this administration, some of our clients were refugees. We have an asylum program and a refugee program. Historically, we have worked with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), but we opened up our refugee program a few years ago. After we launched it, some folks were really scared to even just decide to come to the U.S. I think there was a lot of misinformation, [but] this is still a place thats safer for many folks.But when it comes to policy I mean, if we talk about refugee work, every avenue has been blocked for us. The refugee resettlement program went from thousands a year to zero, and so weve had to really look into other options.Donald Trump signs an executive order on Inauguration Day 2025. | SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER/USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images How has Donald Trumps executive order drastically lowering the refugee cap affected refugees who were already approved?Since January 20, after the executive order suspending the refugee resettlement program and halting the process for many folks, we had people who were ready to travel and had to cancel. So for queer and trans asylum seekers, this means just fewer pathways for relocation or protection from persecution.The U.S. has historically been a place where queer immigrants have been able to come and live freely. Its scary to think its starting to change.There are increased barriers for asylum seekers who are already here as well. Policies like what was called Remain in Mexico, were reinstated. The CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) One app, which allowed those migrating for humanitarian reasons to schedule asylum interviews at ports of entry, was ended, and existing appointments were canceled. There has been increased deportation, including of multiple LGBTQ asylum seekers. Theres also the abuse that happens in detention, particularly to queer and trans immigrants. Its just out of this world. We have some reports that queer immigrants are more likely to be assaulted and abused in ICE detention and put into solitary confinement. Related ICE raids uniquely harm queer immigrants, but LGBTQ+ communities are fighting back Have your clients been affected by the ICE raids and forceful detainments? Thankfully, we havent seen that happening with our clients, at least not directly working with us. We do want to make sure that were giving folks the best advice. So it has been tricky to let our clients know, yes, you need to go to this check-in or this interview. But are we sure that they will not be pulled, even though theyre not supposed to be detained? Not 100%.So thankfully, we havent run into those issues with our clients. But I see what youre talking about every day in the news. We have to protect each other.To what degree do the courts seem sympathetic to immigrants who are seeking legal residential status in the U.S.?Some of our courts have blocked government efforts to revoke broad classes of legal protections when they have been, or at least appear, arbitrary. For example, [consider] the recent rulings blocking attempts to end status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians under TPS (Temporary Protected Status). A lot of [Trumps] decisions are really just a back and forth [in the courts] and still on hold.Unfortunately, for me, its not just work, right? I have loved ones who are going through these procedures, who Im calling and Im checking in every day and trying to see what else we can do to keep them safe. So its impactful beyond just my everyday at work.Were not talking about strangers at the border. Were talking about our friends, our partners, our coworkers. Queer immigrants are part of every community in this country.To me, as someone who has been an activist and working in the LGBTQ and immigration justice spaces, organizing and advocacy become more and more essential when protections are being erased. When the systems are getting more and more hostile, the work of organizations like Immigration Equality becomes even more critical: for litigation, for direct representation, for policy pushes, and community care. Thats a huge one.For forever, immigrant communities have learned how to take care of each other without relying on systems that have failed us. We have to continue to do that. We have to continue to fight. Its not the first time that were targeted as immigrants or as queer people or as queer immigrants, and so we will continue to stay.Were here to stay; theres nowhere that were going. No matter how much they want to erase us, we have always existed, and were here to stay.Sacramento, CA, U.S.A. Feb. 22, 2025: A woman holds up a sign about migration being a human right at the Pro-immigrant Protest in downtown at Cesar Chavez park. | Shutterstock What can average citizens do to help LGBTQ immigrants who are seeking legal status in the United States?First, amplify stories and visibility. Share the stories of queer immigrants. Follow organizations like Immigration Equality and share whats happening. Talk about these issues with your friends, with your networks. Visibility is part of the fight. Erasure is what endangers us, and storytelling is one of the most powerful ways we have to push back and shift that narrative.Advocate for human policies. Ending trans detention, restoring the asylum system, expanding protections, just joining your community. There will be someone around you thats doing this work already. You dont have to reinvent the wheel, and we all have a role. We dont all have to be out in the street protesting. We dont all have to be sitting at a desk writing press releases. We all have different roles, and I think its important to remember that, and build that empathy and courage to say were not talking about strangers at the border. Were talking about our friends, our partners, our coworkers. Queer immigrants are part of every community in this country.People always ask what they can do, and I tell them, Start where you are. Share stories. Speak up when queer and trans immigrants are erased from the conversation. Donate if you can, call your representative and demand humane immigration policies. Immigration Equality can only do this work because people have believed in it for three decades, and that collective belief is what saves lives every day.Its good to know that all is not lost.Thats right. And we keep winning. We still have a 90% win rate for asylum cases. So yeah, were fighting. Theres still hope.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.