GAPIMNY joins a coalition of organizations, led by Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement and Transgender Law Center, to demand an immediate and comprehensive investigation into and response to the death of Roxsana Hernandez, a 33 year-old transgender woman from Honduras. Roxsana died on May 25, 2018, after 16 days in the custody of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to ICE, Roxsana was processed by CBP on May 9, 2018, and placed in freezing cold holding cells known as “hieleras” or “iceboxes.” One week later, she was transferred to Cibola County Correctional Facility, and then to a New Mexico hospital where ICE claims she died of cardiac arrest.
We demand:
1. The immediate launch of an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to Roxsana’s death, including every aspect of her treatment following her detention by CBP on May 9, 2018.
2. The immediate adoption and implementation of a policy against detaining transgender people in CBP or ICE custody. Transgender “pods,” like the one in Cibola, have proven to be grossly ineffective at keeping transgender immigrants safe.
3. The immediate medical screening for chronic diseases of all transgender people in ICE or CBP custody, following protocol consistent with national clinical practice guidelines. In any instances where there may have been a failure to provide necessary, adequate, and appropriate medical treatment, swift action must be taken to develop and implement plans of care.
4. The release of transgender people currently in ICE and CBP custody, in light of a demonstrated inability to guarantee their safety. ICE must recognize the tremendous vulnerability of transgender immigrants as a prevailing factor in granting parole to eligible asylum seekers. Transgender immigrants who are not eligible for parole should be released under other means available, such as on their own recognizance or under an order of supervision.
The following letter was sent to U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: http://familiatqlm.org/roxsanasignonletter/