Crimes Against Marginalized Populations

Question 1

In the United States, LGBTQ immigrants face many challenges such as lack of protection, verbal and physical harassment, and discrimination in reporting their grievances to the law enforcement or as the crime victims, and when obtaining victim resources. The law enforcement protects other discrimination forms, but there's no national decree that reliably and comprehensively forbids discrimination based upon gender identity as well as sexual orientation (Giwa, 2018). When LGBTQ immigrants pursue claims to protection in immigration courts, they face discriminatory attitudes, which lead to rejections of protection to the immigrants. Additionally, LGBTQ immigrants also lack enough access to victim resources such as victim information and the victim's rights, among others. These people are in most states in the United States and need to feel like they belong; hence discrimination should be curbed, and they are provided with protection and access to victim resources.

Question 2

Programs could enhance various ways to help improve the system of criminal justice for LGBTQ immigrants. These ways include; advocating for lawful changes that will protect these people from harassment and discrimination by law enforcement and the community (Lee, 2017). They can also enforce the existing protections that are already legal (in just 28 states) since there are various laws such as the rights of LGBTQ people and nondiscrimination laws, where discrimination is prohibited, and zero lenience of harassment. The programs can also educate as well as campaign to the community to create awareness on the effects of the harassment and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ immigrants because of their gender identity. The recognition of these people can help reduce and prevent the challenges they face, which will not end overnight, and therefore small steps can help raise the equality of LGBTQ immigrants.

References

Giwa, S., & Chaze, F. (2018). Positive enough? A content analysis of settlement service organizations' inclusivity of LGBTQ immigrants.  Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services ,  30 (3), 220-243.

Lee, C., & Ostergard Jr, R. L. (2017). Measuring discrimination against LGBTQ people: A cross-national analysis.  Hum. Rts. Q. ,  39 , 37.