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Diverse & Resilient Statement on Immigration Enforcement and Community Safety

October 10, 2026

Diverse and Resilient upholds one truth: the health and safety of LGBTQ+ communities cannot be separated from the conditions in which people live. Immigration status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity intersect in ways that can expose individuals to discrimination, violence, and barriers to essential services. As concerns about immigration enforcement grow across Wisconsin, we cannot overlook the consequences for the people and communities we serve.

For LGBTQ+ asylum seekers who have fled persecution, violence, or criminalization in their countries of origin, deportation can mean being returned to the very dangers they sought to escape. These are not hypothetical concerns. They reflect the difficult realities faced by people who have come to this country seeking safety and the opportunity to live without persecution. We cannot discuss immigration enforcement without acknowledging what is at stake for individuals whose identities may place them at risk of imprisonment, violence, or death if they are returned.

The consequences extend beyond those facing detention or deportation. Fear, much like stigma, can prevent people from seeking care, accessing HIV prevention and treatment, reporting violence, or reaching out to organizations like ours for support. Families face separation, partners are left in uncertainty, and individuals who have built their lives within our communities face the possibility of losing everything they have worked to establish. When people are afraid to seek help, our entire community feels the consequences.

We cannot claim to advance LGBTQ+ health and well-being while remaining silent about circumstances that directly threaten both. Immigration enforcement is not separate from our work when it affects whether someone can access lifesaving medication, seek protection from violence, or live openly without fear of persecution. These are public health concerns, and they deserve the same attention and urgency as any other threat to the communities we serve. We cannot become so accustomed to these stories that we lose sight of their human impact.

We recognize that immigration policy is complex, but complexity should never become an excuse to overlook its human consequences. People seeking asylum deserve meaningful consideration and safety of the dangers they face. Individuals living with HIV deserve access to uninterrupted care. Survivors of violence deserve to seek protection without fear of further harm. These are basic expectations of a society that takes public health and human safety seriously.

No LGBTQ+ person should have to choose between living authentically and living safely. No one should face persecution because of where they were born, whom they love, or how they identify.

To our immigrant, undocumented, document-seeking, refugee, and asylum-seeking LGBTQ+ community members: We recognize the uncertainty many of you are facing. We know that public statements alone cannot resolve the challenges before us, and we will not pretend otherwise. But we want to be clear about where D&R stands: Your immigration status or documentation does not diminish your humanity, your need for care, or your place in the communities we serve. We will continue working to reduce barriers to essential services, connect people with available resources, and address the conditions that put LGBTQ+ lives and well-being at risk.

Know Your Rights and Where to Find Support

We recognize that words alone are not enough, especially for individuals and families facing the possibility of detention or deportation. Knowing your rights, preparing for emergencies, and connecting with trusted legal resources can make a meaningful difference.

If you or someone you know is concerned about immigration enforcement, the following organizations provide information, practical guidance, and resources:

Wisconsin ICE Emergency Hotline: Voces de la Frontera: 1-800-427-0213 (24/7)

These materials provide general legal information and are not a substitute for advice from a qualified immigration attorney. Immigration procedures and individual rights may depend on the circumstances of each case.

Know What To Do

                           

Chris Allen, MBA (he/him)                        Tou Fong Lee, Ed.D (he/they)

President & CEO                                        Director of Community Programs