Donald Trump ends the arrival of persecuted LGBTQ refugees in the US


The US State Department has cancelled travel for refugees already approved to fly to the United States. Trump has suspended the resettlement program that has provided a safe haven for many LGBTQ people fleeing persecution.

Our friends in the camp in South Sudan have hoped to be allowed entry into the US. Indeed, some of them are already there. But for the remaining the future looks bleak.

The New York Times writes:

"The State Department abruptly canceled travel for thousands of refugees already approved to fly to the United States, days before a deadline that President Trump had set for suspending the resettlement program that provides safe haven for people fleeing persecution.

The cancellation of the flights comes on the heels of an executive order signed by Mr. Trump on Monday that indefinitely paused the refugee resettlement. The order effectively grinds to a halt the process of bringing refugees into the country, which involves multiple federal agencies, as well as nonprofits that receive the newcomers."

More than 10,000 refugees were currently in the pipeline to travel to the United States.

The Hill reports that a  Day 1 order from Trump pauses the refugee program for a minimum of three months, calling for the departments of State and of Homeland Security to issue a report within 90 days detailing whether it’s in the nation’s interests to resume the admission of refugees. 

There is little reason to believe that Trump will open doors again, given his racist anti-immigrant rhetoric, unless the decision is successfully challenged in court.

Trump has also shut down the CBP One app who has been used by the American government to  create an orderly way for migrants to enter the U.S. and to reduce illegal border crossings.

Our contacts in South Sudan refers to a message from Welcome.US, an American organization built to inspire, mobilize, and empower Americans from all corners of the country to welcome and support those seeking refuge in the country. 

Welcome.US reports that The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) will be suspended on Jan. 27, until further notice, except on a case-by-case basis. This includes the Welcome Corps, a private sponsorship program under USRAP. The Welcome Corps, launched in 2023 by the U.S. State Department, allows Americans to privately sponsor refugees to come to safety in the United States.

At the moment the LGBTQ refugees in South Sudan are caught in Limbo as far as the US is concerned.  They are looking into the possibility of finding refuge in Canada. I will come back to you with more info on that when available.

In the meantime: Here is an article on the life of a trans woman living in a refugee camp in South Sudan. It describes the challenges they are facing in Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan.

Image: Maria Lapteva

Note that I am withholding the name of the refugee camp in South Sudan as the local authorities are searching the web for information that can help them identify LGBTQ refugees.



Popular posts from this blog

Where to find hope of escape: In Kenya or South Sudan?

Image
Rainbow over South Sudan, photo taken by Nakafeero . Ugandan LGBTQ-refugees in Kenya are facing a dilemma: Should they stay in the Kakuma camp, with no hope for resettlement or should they go to a camp in South Sudan (name withheld for security purposes), which seems to give them hope of resettlement in more LGBTQ-friendly countries. By Per Koch, Oslo, Norway Nakafeero and her around 90 LGBTQ refugees have spent years in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.  They tell horrifying stories about how they was treated in Uganda. Nakafeero herself lost her sister and mother to the local homophobic mob. You might say that they chose to go to Kenya of their own free will, and that they are also free to leave. Which is all true - on paper. You may leave a refugee camp. But where do you go?  As long as you are a refugee you do not have the rights of regular citizens, as in to settle down, get a job, find a new home or do any of the things free citizens take for granted. Hate crimes in the ...
Read more

On the situation for LGBTQ-refugees in Kakuma, Kenya – an update

Image
Nakafeero Swabulah, local LGBTQI-leader in Kakuma Two weeks ago we presented the January UNHCR  LGBTQI-report on the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya . Today we present the views of one of the LGBTQI-leaders and activists in the camp: Nakafeero. By Per M. Koch It is great that the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR publishes reports on the lives of LGBTQI refugees in Kakuma. This makes the challenges these refugees face more visible, both inside the UNHCR and in their collaboration with others. This also makes it clear that this is an issue relevant to the human rights principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN on LGBTQI rights “So long as people face criminalization, bias and violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, we must redouble our efforts to end this violations,” Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, said on 25 September 2018.
Read more

LGBTQ Kakuma refugees decide to move to South Sudan camp in hope of repatriation

Image
Nakafeero and friend. Queer LGBTQ activists like Nakafeero and Elvis are taking their groups of Ugandan refugees to a camp in South Sudan (name withheld for security purposes), where there are real chances of being repatriated to a much more safer country. As reported many of the LGBTQ refugees in the Kakuma camp in Kenya are feeling increasingly unsafe. They have gotten messages from a public official noting that the Kenyan government is not recognizing the LGBTQ status of any refugee in their camp and that being queer or trans is not seen as a valid reason for getting protection as refugees. Here's an email Edward, a member of the Kakuma LGBTQ-community, got from a Kenyan commissioner:  The refugee camp in South Sudan is not necessarily a safer place for the Ugandan refugees, but both the Canadian and US governments have officials in place who are organizing repatriation for refugees, including those LGBTQ. Elvis, a friend and ally of Nakafeero, has already taken their group o...
Read more