Transgender in Detention: Victimization Experiences in Immigration Facilities

Purpose: In this article, we describe and illustrate the victimization experiences of transgender immigrants in the U.S. detention system.

Methods: We use two sources of data, (1) the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey and (2) Immigration and Customs Enforcement government contracts and audit documentation, to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of transgender detainees in these facilities.

Results: By connecting what is evidenced in these two data sources, we observe a systemic pattern of victimization that includes physical and sexual assault, long-term solitary confinement, as well as the denial of lifesaving gender-affirming services.

Conclusion: Immigrant detention centers are often mismanaged entities in which the well-being of detainees is hardly procured. The conditions are even more precarious and downright dangerous for transgender detainees. We conclude by recommending stringent penalties to facilities that endanger the well-being of detainees as well as an overall reform of the immigration system.