Undocumented

Undocumented describes a person who lives in a country without legal immigration status. Within LGBTQ+ communities the word points to people who carry both an immigration and a queer or trans identity, and the two often compound each other. Fear of deportation can keep someone from reporting a hate crime, seeking healthcare, or reaching out to support services. Undocumented LGBTQ+ people, especially young people, may be separated from family, face a higher risk of homelessness, and struggle to access gender-affirming care. Advocacy groups such as those in the immigrant rights and LGBTQ+ movements work at this intersection, arguing that immigration justice and queer liberation are linked rather than separate causes.