Many of our clients face the threat of persecution and discrimination if they are deported to their native countries. The Law Office of Evelyn Tossas Tucker

has 20 years of in-depth experience with these cases, as well as experience as a USCIS prosecutor and the director for Legal Services at the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC).

Persecution on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or HIV status:

In some cultures, people who are LGBTIQ or even perceived as such are subjected to physical and psychological violence. This also affects individuals who are HIV/AIDS positive. Aside from physical threats and verbal harassment, these individuals may be regularly denied access to medical care and medications, and treatment for associated issues of dependency, substance abuse, and mental health, which often result from oppression and abuse.

Persecution on the Basis of Gender
In many countries, individuals who do not conform to typically ascribed gender roles are often targeted for their perceived difference. This manner of mistreatment parallels issues of homophobia and gender inequality.

Women are often victimized by laws of marriage and inheritance as well as by acts of genital mutilation, sexual violence, and systematic abuse. In places where this treatment is widespread, women rarely have any legal recourse. As a result, individuals who have experienced these things or who have a well-founded fear of experiencing these things may apply for asylum in the U.S.

In many countries, the local military police are often reluctant to protect individuals from this harassment, and, as a result, persecutors can continue violent intimidation and assault without fear of reprisal.