California’s LGBTQ+ organizations are voicing strong solidarity with immigrant communities and protestors in the wake of recent ICE raids in Los Angeles and an unprecedented deployment of the National Guard by President Donald Trump.
This federal action, which saw at least 118 immigrants arrested between Friday and Saturday, has sparked widespread outrage and massive protests across downtown LA.
In a move that has bypassed state authority for the first time since 1965, President Trump deployed the National Guard to California without a request from Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. This unilateral action has drawn sharp criticism from state officials and community leaders.
“Donald Trump’s decision to seize control of the California National Guard and launch sweeping immigration raids is a dangerous and deliberate escalation, intended to terrorize communities across our state,” stated Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California. “These actions are rooted in political theater and will ignite more fear in already vulnerable communities. They are sowing chaos and tearing families apart.”
Heightened Vulnerability for LGBTQ+ Immigrants
The LGBTQ+ community has a significant stake in immigration policies. Reports from the Williams Institute indicate that up to 3% of non-citizens in the U.S.—approximately 640,000 individuals—identify as LGBTQ+. This includes an estimated 288,000 undocumented immigrants who face heightened risks under the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans. Furthermore, a separate study found that nearly all (98.4%) of the 11,400 LGBTQ+ individuals who sought asylum in the U.S. between 2012 and 2017 received a positive credible fear determination.
“LGBTQ+ immigrants are especially vulnerable at this moment,” Hoang emphasized. “Many have fled violence and persecution only to be met with federally-sanctioned cruelty here in the United States. These raids risk separating loving families, re-traumatizing asylum seekers, and driving LGBTQ+ people further into the shadows — where access to safety, health care, and legal protection is even more limited.”
California Pushes Back
Los Angeles operates as a sanctuary city, offering protections to both immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals. This status means local law enforcement is not meant to use its resources to enforce federal deportations or raids. For LGBTQ+ individuals, it also means safeguarding queer youth traveling to the city for gender-affirming care.
In response to the federal actions, Governor Newsom has announced plans to file a lawsuit against the Trump Administration today if the President does not relinquish control of the National Guard.
He also issued a defiant challenge to White House “border czar” Tom Homan, who had threatened arrests for interfering with immigration agents, stating, “Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
The Los Angeles LGBT Center has also condemned the raids, highlighting the vital support they offer to the community. In a statement, the Center noted, “These raids are a cruel reminder that safety and dignity are still not guaranteed for all. The Center stands with people of Los Angeles, including immigrant rights groups and our elected officials in condemning these attacks on our community. The federal government is intentionally seeking to instill fear and disrupt our lives.”
The Center’s Legal Services team provides legal clinics in both English and Spanish to assist LGBTQ+ immigrants, offering help with asylum applications, work permits, name/gender marker changes, and more, both in person and virtually.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center can be reached online at legalservices@lalgbtcenter.org or by phone at 323-993-7670.
