Statement of Janson Wu, Executive Director, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement that he will authorize state police to engage in federal immigration enforcement raises particular concerns for the LGBTQ community.  Janson Wu, Executive Director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, issued the following statement:

“The use of state police to enforce federal immigration policy makes already vulnerable people – LGBTQ immigrants – even more vulnerable.

“LGBTQ immigrants already report high rates of violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and are already reluctant to approach law enforcement for the help they may need as victims of crime. Turning state police into immigration agents places a further obstacle in the road to justice and healing.  This is not the kind of place the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should be for its most vulnerable residents.”