Queer Detainee Empowerment Project

The Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP) is a community-based organization in New York City that supports LGBTQI and HIV+ individuals coming out of immigration detention to secure health and wellness, education, legal, and emotional support services. QDEP undertakes detention center visitation, provides case management, and undertakes community organizing and advocacy.

The problem

LGBTQI persons and their allies often face serious physical and legal threats in their countries of origin, including persecution because of sexual orientation, gender identity or identity (SOGIE), or because of HIV status. While the U.S. recognizes SOGIE-based asylum claims, many LGBTQI and HIV+ immigrants face constraints in accessing information about the asylum process, or legal support necessary to file asylum claims. The increasing focus on detention and deportation in U.S. immigration policy exacerbates the vulnerability of LGBTQI immigrants, who are disproportionately at risk of physical abuse and sexual violence inside of immigration detention.

Our approach

With its focus on protecting and building power among LGBTQI and HIV+ immigrant detainees, QDEP was established in 2013 in response to a gap in culturally competent services for LGBTQI and HIV+ immigrants coming out of immigration detention. QDEP organizes around the structural barriers and state violence that LGBTQI detainees and other undocumented persons all too often face in relation to their immigration status, race, sexuality, and gender expression or gender identity. QDEP is committed to assisting individuals in building lives outside of detention, breaking down the barriers that prevent folks from building fulfilling and strong lives, and keeping queer and trans immigrant families together by demanding an end to deportations, detention and policing.

With its focus on the protection and empowerment of LGBTQI and HIV+ immigrant detainees, QDEP has a unique role within the grassroots immigrant movement, both in New York and nationwide. QDEP works to build a trans and queer narrative, enhancing the dialogue and activities within the immigration justice and prison abolition movements, as well as ensuring a safe space for persons of all national origins and immigration statuses within LGBTQI movements. QDEP is an active member of the Detention Watch Network, the International Detention Coalition, and the National Prison Divestment Campaign Steering Committee.

QDEP provides its members access to information on policy issues that affect them as immigrants and as LGBTQI persons, and advocates for justice for all persons and families who are affected by US immigration laws and policies.

Ending detention of all immigrants is a strategic advocacy goal for QDEP, with priority given to immediately abolishing detention for LGBTQI immigrants who face the greatest risks for physical and emotional abuse while in detention. QDEP advocates for an end to the isolation and segregation of transgender immigrants (the so-called “GBT pods”) in detention, a practice that is tantamount to psychological abuse. QDEP has worked with other immigrant rights advocates to advocate for the New York City Council to pass resolutions in support of humane alternatives to immigration detention, including the elimination of solitary confinement for all immigrant detainees.

Our team

Advisory Board

• Lilla Crawford
• Olando Charles
• Uchechukwu Onwa

• Tania Mattos

  Contact information

info@qdep.org