Trans immigration detainees will now be held in facilities that match their gender identity

U.S. immigration officials will start housing transgender immigrants in detention facilities that match their gender identity, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency announced Monday.

"The Transgender Care Memorandum reaffirms ICE's commitment to provide a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all those in our custody, including those individuals who identify as transgender," said Thomas Homan, ICE Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations assistant director.

Though reportedly unrelated, the move comes days after an undocumented transgender immigrant interrupted President Barack Obama at a White House event to draw attention to the treatment of LGBT people in custody.

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A 2014 Fusion report found though transgender immigrants make up less than 1 percent of those detained by ICE each year, they account for one in five instances of sexual assault in detention facilities.