FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17th, 2015
Contact: Isa Noyola, isa@transgenderlawcenter.org, 415.865.0176 ext 312
Jennicet Gutiérrez, jegtz79@gmail.com, 818-469-3084
Cristina's case shows lack of ability from ICE to meet needs of trans women in detention, despite new guidelines
Today as part of the Not1More Deportation campaign Familia QTLM, GetEQUAL, and the Transgender Law Center called for the release of Christina Lopez, an undocumented transwoman currently held at Santa Ana Detention Center. Christina urgently needs medical attention for Hepatitis C, which so far the detention center has refused to provide despite several requests. Her experiences while detained show the failure of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to meet the needs of transwomen in detention.
Christina Lopez is a 35 year old transgender immigrant who has been in immigration detention for a year and a half. Christina left Peru following her parents, who had traveled to the U.S. to find better economic opportunities. In addition to wanting to be with her family, immigrating was a matter of life and death for Christina, who wanted to escape harsh violence against transgender people in Peru.
“In spite of the guidance issued in June by [DHS], Christina and other transwomen continue to face abuse, harassment, and dangerous living conditions," said Jennicet Gutiérrez, a founding member of Familia QTLM who disrupted President Obama during a Pride Reception last June advocating for undocumented transgender women in detention.
Gutiérrez added, "the inhumanity of ICE will not be alleviated by new guidelines or initiatives -- they can only be addressed through the end of the detention and deportation system."
The petition calling on ICE to release Christina is here: http://bit.ly/FreeChristina
Follow the hashtags #FreeChristina or #Not1More on Twitter for updates related to her case.
Contact: Isa Noyola, isa@transgenderlawcenter.org, 415.865.0176 ext 312
Jennicet Gutiérrez, jegtz79@gmail.com, 818-469-3084
Cristina's case shows lack of ability from ICE to meet needs of trans women in detention, despite new guidelines
Today as part of the Not1More Deportation campaign Familia QTLM, GetEQUAL, and the Transgender Law Center called for the release of Christina Lopez, an undocumented transwoman currently held at Santa Ana Detention Center. Christina urgently needs medical attention for Hepatitis C, which so far the detention center has refused to provide despite several requests. Her experiences while detained show the failure of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to meet the needs of transwomen in detention.
Christina Lopez is a 35 year old transgender immigrant who has been in immigration detention for a year and a half. Christina left Peru following her parents, who had traveled to the U.S. to find better economic opportunities. In addition to wanting to be with her family, immigrating was a matter of life and death for Christina, who wanted to escape harsh violence against transgender people in Peru.
“In spite of the guidance issued in June by [DHS], Christina and other transwomen continue to face abuse, harassment, and dangerous living conditions," said Jennicet Gutiérrez, a founding member of Familia QTLM who disrupted President Obama during a Pride Reception last June advocating for undocumented transgender women in detention.
Gutiérrez added, "the inhumanity of ICE will not be alleviated by new guidelines or initiatives -- they can only be addressed through the end of the detention and deportation system."
The petition calling on ICE to release Christina is here: http://bit.ly/FreeChristina
Follow the hashtags #FreeChristina or #Not1More on Twitter for updates related to her case.
