On a crisp December evening in West Angeles, a vibrant Christmas celebration brought together families and friends in West Hollywood. Amidst the laughter and chatter, Bamby Salcedo, a transgender immigrant and activist, stood out in her striking red suit, surrounded by a crowd near a towering Christmas tree. This scene of joy and unity contrasts sharply with Salcedo’s past, which was marked by struggle and hardship. When she arrived in the U.S. decades ago, she faced immense challenges, including homelessness, incarceration, and immigration detention. These experiences shaped her mission to co-found the TransLatin@ Coalition, an organization dedicated to supporting trans and gender non-conforming immigrants, providing them with a sense of community and refuge.
Despite the festive spirit of the gathering, Salcedo and many others in her community are bracing themselves for a new wave of challenges under the Trump administration. The memories of that joyful celebration offer little comfort in the face of policies and rhetoric that threaten their safety, health, and very existence in the U.S. In recent weeks, Salcedo has been focused on preparing to defend her community, fearing that the federal government is targeting transgender immigrants with unprecedented hostility. Many in this community, including Salcedo, believe that the Trump administration is singling them out with a level of aggression not seen even during his previous term. “It’s very clear that the federal government has a specific initiative to target members of our community,” Salcedo said. Her organization is fighting to support and protect their community, but the constant barrage of hostile messages from the federal government is taking a toll on people’s mental health and spirits.
The concerns of transgender immigrants are compounded by the fact that many have fled violence and persecution in their home countries. According to a 2024 report from the Williams Center at UCLA, an estimated 174,200 transgender immigrants live in the U.S., with about a quarter residing in California. Seventy-two percent of these individuals identify as people of color, with 38% being Latinx, 33% non-Hispanic Asian, and 29% White. While no policies have been explicitly announced targeting transgender immigrants, their overlapping identities as immigrants and transgender individuals place them at a heightened risk of violence and discrimination. Experts warn that the convergence of anti-immigrant and anti-transgender rhetoric in U.S. policies creates a dangerous environment for this community. “Trans immigrants are experiencing an enhanced experience of discrimination because we have in our country this anti-trans and anti-immigrant rhetoric of policies,” said Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Social Work. “So, they are at the intersection of both crucial moments in our policies.”
One of the most pressing fears for transgender immigrants is the threat of deportation. Many have fled their home countries to escape brutal violence and persecution, only to find themselves in a precarious situation in the U.S. Deportation could mean a death sentence for some, as highlighted by the Trans Murder Monitoring project, which reported at least 350 killings of transgender individuals worldwide between October 2023 and September 2024. Seventy percent of these deaths occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Mexico having the second-highest homicide rate for transgender people globally. For those who have found relative safety in the U.S., the prospect of being sent back to these dangerous conditions is terrifying. Alvarez-Hernandez, who worked with transgender immigrants during his time as a clinical social worker in Atlanta, recounted how many of his clients lived in constant fear of being deported to violent environments. “Their fears are not unfounded,” he said. “We have a long history of news about trans immigrants being sent back to their countries of origin and then being killed there.”
The dangers faced by transgender immigrants are not limited to deportation. Immigration detention centers in the U.S. are often settings of neglect, discrimination, and violence. A 2024 report from the National Immigrant Justice Center revealed that people in detention often lack access to medical and mental health care, and suffer discriminatory treatment, leading to preventable deaths. Li Ann Sanchez, a transgender woman from Mexico who runs a trans immigrant rights group in Atlanta, described her experience in detention as “something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy.” She recalled how female officials denied her identity, telling her she would never truly be a woman. Sanchez’s experience is not unique. Advocates have long criticized the conditions in detention centers, where transgender individuals, particularly women, are at high risk of assault, belittlement, and sexual violence. These risks are exacerbated by Trump’s executive orders, including one that mandates transgender women be housed in men’s facilities and discontinue gender-affirming care. While a judge recently blocked this order in federal prisons, citing risks to the safety of transgender individuals, the broader threat to their well-being remains.
Beyond the immediate dangers of deportation and detention, transgender immigrants face a host of challenges that threaten their economic stability and mental health. Many struggle to find employment due to discrimination based on their immigration status and gender identity. A 2022 study published in the Southern Economic Journal found that transgender individuals experience higher rates of poverty, food insecurity, and reliance on public assistance compared to the general population. When traditional employment is unavailable, many are forced to turn to the street economy, which can lead to further exploitation and incarceration. Salcedo emphasized that this lack of stability creates a pervasive sense of fear. “If people are not able to be visible and not able to obtain employment in order to really live a normal life, you know, that’s also a fear that is instilled in our communities,” she said. These economic struggles are compounded by rising anti-transgender violence and hate crimes. According to FBI data, anti-transgender hate crimes reported in the U.S. doubled between 2021 and 2023, from 176 incidents to 355. Sanchez noted that attacks on transgender individuals in her community have already increased, prompting warnings to stay vigilant and avoid walking alone in public.
Despite these daunting challenges, the transgender immigrant community remains resilient, drawing strength from their shared experiences and mutual support. Advocates like Salcedo and Sanchez emphasize the importance of prioritizing mental health and leaning on one another during these difficult times. “We have always done social work,” Salcedo said. “We have clothed our own, we have fed our own. We have housed our own with no resources.” While the road ahead is uncertain, the community’s resilience and solidarity offer a glimmer of hope. As Sanchez put it, “If they touch one of us, we’re all hitting back.” The fight for safety, dignity, and acceptance is far from over, but the transgender immigrant community is determined to persevere, relying on their strength and the support of one another to navigate the challenges ahead.
