Rainbow Railroad reported receiving 20,215 direct requests for relocation assistance from queer and transgender individuals in 2025. This represented a 51% increase in requests compared to the previous year. In 2025, 30.9% of these requests originated from individuals living within the United States, an increase from 13% in 2023. Of the requests from within the U.S. in 2025, 88% were made by American citizens.

Devon Matthews, Chief Programs Officer at Rainbow Railroad, said, "The LGBTQ+ community is having a horrific time accessing their rights." A spokesperson for Rainbow Railroad stated, "Our data shows that the crisis is escalating in a substantial way."

Sophia, a Black trans woman, applied for asylum through the USRAP P-1 referral pathway after relocating to Brazil in 2024. She stated, "For me, in particular, as a trans woman—as a Black trans woman—I felt like I had to always hide myself." She also said, "I felt unsafe, hearing all the stories about other trans women in Jamaica being killed or assaulted."

Sophia expressed a personal sentiment about the United States, stating, "The U.S. was projected to me as a haven for queer people, now it feels like a grave for queer people." Bridget Crawford, Director of Law and Policy at Immigration Equality, commented, "It's from the frying pan to the fire—to another fire, to another."

According to Human Rights Watch, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. The organization also states that at least nine countries criminalize forms of gender expression. The Center for Immigration Studies reported that more than 233,000 refugees were resettled through USRAP during the Biden Administration.