Client Stories
From Persecution to Pride:
How John Fled Violence,
Found Support, and Built a New Life in NYC
A Journey That Began with Fear
In Nigeria, being gay or bisexual isn’t just stigmatized — it’s criminal. For John, that meant living in constant fear. He was attacked by vigilantes, imprisoned, and forced to flee his home country just to survive.
When John arrived in the U.S., he thought he was finally safe. But instead of sanctuary, he was thrown into ICE detention, moved from facility to facility, and left without a lawyer to navigate the brutal complexities of the immigration system.
“I was in prison for seven months,” John said. “I didn’t have money to get a lawyer. I was basically put in the street with four children.”
Are you or someone you know seeking asylum in the U.S.? Start here.
Why We Got Involved
John became our client through the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) — the nation’s first program to guarantee free legal representation to detained immigrants facing deportation in NYC. A program that The Bronx Defenders was instrumental in advocating for over a decade ago.
But at The Bronx Defenders, we know that legal representation isn’t always enough. That’s why John also worked closely with our social workers and the team in our LGBTQ Defense Project, the first public defender practice of its kind in the U.S.
“They helped in multiple ways,” John recalled. “Getting me out on parole, getting my health insurance, doctors, clothes — and they introduced me to people just like me. That’s how I knew I wasn’t alone.”
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We Took ICE to Court—And Won
Our immigration team, working alongside our LGBTQ Defense Project, fought for John’s freedom and his right to live openly and without fear.
Over three years, we supported his asylum case and supported every step of his journey. And in June 2019, John received the life-changing news:
He had won asylum.
“They were so awesome,” John said. “I was in tears on that day.”
If you’re LGBTQ+ and facing immigration detention or court involvement, we can help.
A Life Reclaimed
Today, John is proud of who he is — and he’s no longer hiding. He’s building a life on his own terms, surrounded by community and grounded in safety.
“Meeting The Bronx Defenders was actually a change of life for me,” he said. “I’m living freely right now, no hiding from nobody. I live the way I want to be. I express myself.”
A System Still in Crisis
John’s case ended in victory — but far too many others still face deportation, detention, or forced silence simply because of who they are. LGBTQ, trans, and gender expansive New Yorkers are especially vulnerable, often facing targeted violence in their home countries and systemic barriers here in the U.S.
We’re continuing to fight for a world where no one has to choose between freedom and safety. Where every person — regardless of immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation — has the right to live freely and fully.
Learn more about our holistic defense model and how you can support this work.