ICE HOLDS GAY RUSSIAN ASYLUM COUPLE FOR A YEAR — SEPARATED AND DENIED CARE, ADVOCATES SAY

A married gay couple from Russia, Andrei Ushakov and Aleksandr Skitsan, requested asylum at a U.S. port of entry in Nov. 2024 and have remained in ICE custody nearly a year. Advocacy group América Diversa says the men were separated without explanation, barred from communicating, and faced delayed or inadequate medical care after transfers from Imperial Regional Detention Facility (CA) to San Luis Regional Detention Center (AZ). ICE has not commented, and advocates say the case reflects broader detention concerns for LGBTQ asylum seekers.