Hogar {Home}, NCLR’s immigration program, was launched in 1994, the same year the U.S. recognized that immigrants facing persecution on the basis of their sexual orientation could seek protection as refugees and asylees in the United States. Since then, Hogar has advanced immigration law and assisted thousands of LGBTQ immigrants facing the risk of abuse, violence, and even death in their home countries for being who they are, in obtaining legal status in the U.S.
Clients like Flor*, a lesbian who received ongoing harassment and threats of violence over her sexuality and masculine gender presentation from a young age in El Salvador. Throughout her life Flor suffered violent physical and sexual attacks from people in her community who wanted to “teach her to like men” while authorities looked the other way. Unable to escape increasing hostility and abuse, Flor fled El Salvador to seek asylum in the United States and has spent nearly 10 years awaiting a decision.
For more than a decade, NCLR has assisted Flora in navigating various hurdles in her path towards legal status, safety, and dignity, including advocating on her behalf with her employers while waiting for her renewed work permit.
Clients like Mateo* a gay man from Mexico who faced severe persecution for being gay and effeminate in Mexico. Mateo was violently sexually assaulted by a gang member and repeatedly harassed by other members of that gang. Unable to get help or protection from the police, and fearing additional persecution directly from law enforcement, Mateo fled to the U.S. to escape further harm. He has been able to rebuild his life and pursue his lifelong love of dance, becoming a teacher and leader in that community. We assisted Mateo in filing his asylum application and represented him during the asylum process. He was granted asylum in August of 2025.
And clients like Joaquin* and Carolina* and their kids Lisandro*and Belen*, a family that faced violence in El Salvador for being who they are. Joaquin and Carolina are both transgender, and because of his masculine demeanor and presentation, Joaquin was in constant threat of detention or physical violence if he was stopped by police or the military forces and asked for identification, since his documents used his birth name and listed him as female. Once, a soldier threatened to arrest Joaquin for being part of an ‘illicit group’ – being transgender. He was terrified to be jailed indefinitely and face extreme physical violence while detained. Fearing for his life and that of his family, Joaquin and Carolina made the difficult decision to flee El Salvador in 2022 with their young baby and leave Joaquin’s daughter Belen with her grandmother until he could find a way to bring her safely to the United States. After a long and arduous journey, the young family arrived in the United States and were referred to NCLR for assistance with their asylum application, which was granted. We are now preparing to apply for permanent residency for all three family members who are present in the U.S. and we have also submitted a petition to bring Belen home to her parents.
NCLR’s work with Hogar clients is literally lifesaving, but the sweeping anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ policies the Trump administration is implementing are making the asylum process extremely difficult. The asylum office now can refer cases to Immigration Court without giving an interview. This creates a high level of risk for many of our clients.
Having a full-time immigration attorney available to take these cases is of the utmost importance for our work. We are no longer seeing affirmative cases as often as we did before. It seems that a great majority of individuals that come to our office are desperate for assistance in court proceedings which are becoming increasingly difficult and challenging as our country’s current agenda is removal. NCLR is hiring a full-time staff attorney to lead our Hogar {Home} program and represent clients in affirmative and defensive asylum proceedings. If you are inspired by our clients’ stories and want to make a real impact for LGBTQ asylum seekers, please apply!
Staff Attorney (Immigration / Hogar Program) – National Center for LGBTQ Rights
*All names have been changed to protect client anonymity
