Asylum

Asylum is a form of legal relief and protection to migrants who are fleeing persecution in their countries of origin. For many trans migrants, asylum is often the only option to apply for legal status in the United States, given the family reunification and social class biases of the U.S. immigration system. The two most common ways to apply for legal permanent residency are through direct family ties or through sponsorship by an employer. Many trans people experience family rejection and cannot access legal status through family reunification. Additionally, trans people face many barriers to education and employment and often do not have access to the cultural, class, and economic capital required for labor migration to the United States, which privileges highly educated professional workers. ...