Equality California on Rep. Tom McClintock's Anti-Immigration 'Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023'

H.R. 2640 would reinstate many provisions previously enacted under the Trump Administration.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 19, 2023 - Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introducing H.R. 2640, the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023, which would make it much harder for immigrants to seek asylum in the US and reinstate previous provisions enforced during the Trump Administration:

"The United States has always served as a beacon of hope for immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families, including those who are LGBTQ+. Until our nation has a just and functional immigration system, we do not have full and lasting LGBTQ+ equality. Undocumented LGBTQ+ people and those seeking asylum face tremendous negative effects on their social well-being for being members of two marginalized groups.

Many seeking asylum do so because they are fleeing violence or persecution in their countries of origin. As we've seen recently in places like Uganda and Iran, LGBTQ+ people face significant danger in other parts of the world simply because of who they are or who they love. Representative McClintock's bill seeks only to further stigmatize immigrant communities, a population already vulnerable to harassment and discrimination, and he should be ashamed for contributing to anti-immigrant narratives.

Equality California will continue our efforts to educate about the compounded disparities that LGBTQ+ immigrants and undocumented people face, and we urge the House and Senate to vote down this dangerous legislation."

H.R. 2640 would aggressively reduce the number of people eligible for asylum by expanding a series of felonies and misdemeanors that would make most ineligible for asylum protections. It would also mandate detention for family units crossing the border without prior authorization for the duration of their legal process, including detention for minors. Additionally, the bill would mandate asylum requests be conducted at ports of entry, raise penalties for visa overstays, and crack down on immigrant workers.

Equality California is the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org