Basic Rights Oregon Statement on ICE Arrest of Transgender Woman Seeking Asylum in Portland

Yesterday, ICE agents arrested and detained a 24-year-old transgender woman seeking asylum in Oregon. The woman, whose initials are OJM, was at a hearing for her asylum case at Portland Immigration Court, and ICE agents detained her right outside the courtroom, disrupting her case and stripping her of her due process rights.

This is an alarming escalation of the Trump Administration’s attacks on the safety of immigrants and refugees. It is also cause for concern that a transgender woman was targeted, as the Trump Administration has made it a point to strip away as many legal protections for trans immigrants as they can. This includes reversing a policy that requires ICE to detain transgender people in the facility that matches their gender identity, rather than their assigned sex at birth. This signifies an escalation of attacks against both immigrants and the trans community. 

Basic Rights Oregon is in contact with Innovation Law Lab, which represents OJM. Currently, we do not know which facility OJM is being detained at. What we do know is that OJM faced anti-trans violence in her home country, and sought safety in Oregon because we are both an immigration sanctuary state, and a leader for trans rights.

Trans folks are often asylum seekers, and many have endured grave harm in their country of origin due to gender identity or sexual orientation. Transgender individuals in immigration detention are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, denial of necessary medical care, and isolation in facilities used for punitive reasons. The well-documented harms caused to transgender individuals in detention violates their right to due process.

Oregon is stronger because of immigrants, and because of transgender people. It is outrageous that ICE would come to Oregon and target a trans woman who is guilty only of seeking a safe and affirming place to live. Courthouse arrests destroy the integrity of our justice system.

Basic Rights Oregon stands in solidarity with Innovation Law Lab, and will be keeping a close eye on this case. We will share more information as it becomes available.