Jessica L.: Transgender woman harassed in male unit at ICE center in Tacoma, WashingtonA 22-year-old transgender woman was detained during a check-in and housed in a male unit in Tacoma, where she faced harassment. A court ordered her moved or released within 24 hours.May 22, 2026·Tacoma, WA·Nicaragua·CourtListener📦
Andry H.R.: Gay asylum seeker deported to El Salvador prison, held over four monthsAndry Hernández Romero, a gay Venezuelan makeup artist seeking asylum, was deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador over disputed tattoos. Released in a prisoner swap, he now seeks asylum in Spain.May 22, 2026·Tecoluca, El Salvador·Venezuela·CBS News📦,CNN📦,Los Angeles Times📦,The Guardian📦,The Advocate+1📦,Acast📦,Q Notes📦,Metro Weekly📦,Inquisitr📦,Irish Star📦,Business of Fashion📦,The Olive Press📦
Loba: Transgender woman harassed in male dorms, self-deports to El SalvadorLoba, a transgender woman from El Salvador, was held six months in male dormitories at California City, where she faced harassment from guards. She self-deported after being denied support as an LGBTQ+ detainee.May 15, 2026·California City, CA·El Salvador·LAist📦
Allan D.M.: Gay asylum seeker held nearly five months as ICE refused court-ordered bondAllan Dabrio Marrero, a gay asylum seeker married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at his green card interview and held nearly five months, even after a judge approved his bond.May 15, 2026·New York, NY·CBS News📦,Good Faith Media📦,Gay City News📦,Jacqueline Lewis (Substack)📦,Brooklyn Eagle📦,EV Grieve📦,Hotspots Magazine📦,Instagram📦
Otis F.: LGBTQ Jamaican asylum seeker protected from deportation arrested by ICE at homeOtis Nicholas Ffriend, a Jamaican LGBTQ asylum seeker living with his U.S. citizen wife, was arrested at his California home despite prior torture-related protection. A judge ordered his release, and the government is now appealing.May 14, 2026·Willits, CA·Jamaica·CourtListener📦,Kym Kemp,U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Suzy G.: Trans activist held by ICE in male unit in GeorgiaSuzy Gerónimo, a transgender activist, was detained after a traffic stop and held in a men's unit at a Georgia facility, facing harassment and unsafe conditions. A judge ordered accommodations, though enforcement has been inconsistent.May 14, 2026·Lumpkin, GA·Univision📦,Enlace Latino NC+3📦,Que Pasa Media📦,Wake Weekly📦,Beacon Media📦
Htet A.: LGBTQ+ green card holder from Myanmar held 11.5 months by ICEHtet Aung, a Myanmar-born green card holder who came to the U.S. at age 8, was detained by ICE despite winning protection from persecution. A federal judge ordered his release after 11.5 months.Fundraiser onlyMay 7, 2026·Phoenix, AZ·Myanmar·GoFundMe📦
Yari R.M.: Queer woman with leukemia held by ICE over a year, vomiting bloodA 39-year-old queer woman with leukemia has been held over a year at Eloy Detention Center, losing 70 pounds and developing new illnesses while receiving only Tylenol. Lawmakers and advocates have called for her humanitarian release.Apr 28, 2026·Nogales, AZ·Univision📦,Copper Courier📦,LGBTQ Nation📦,Lookout News+1📦,Phoenix New Times📦,Times Telegram,Calo News+1📦,ABC15📦,Davis Vanguard📦,Resist Bot📦,Action Network📦,Instagram+1📦
Karla S.: Trans organizer detained at Phoenix ICE check-in, held in men's unitKarla Saenz, a 26-year-old Venezuelan transgender organizer with Trans Queer Pueblo, was detained at a routine check-in and held in a men's unit at Eloy Detention Center, where she contracted COVID-19.Apr 23, 2026·Phoenix, AZ·Venezuela·Lookout News+1📦,The Advocate📦,High Country News📦,Instagram📦
Allan M.: Gay man held 150 days as ICE refused judge's bond orderAllan Marrero, from the Cayman Islands, was detained at a routine green card interview and held 150 days despite a judge granting him bond, which ICE refused to honor. He was freed in April 2026 and reunited with his husband.Apr 23, 2026·New York, NY·Cayman Islands·CBS News+1📦,Them📦,Watermark Out News📦,ABC7 New York+1📦,Outs Florida📦,NY1📦,WUFT📦,Hindustan Times📦,Instagram+1📦
Karla S.: Trans organizer detained by ICE denied hormone therapy, medical neglectKarla Sáenz, a 26-year-old transgender organizer from Venezuela, was held a month in a men's unit at Eloy Detention Center, denied hormone therapy and showers. A judge ordered her release in April.Apr 22, 2026·Phoenix, AZ·Venezuela·Copper Courier📦,LGBTQ Nation📦,Lookout News📦,Phoenix New Times📦,Times Telegram📦,Calo News📦,Instagram+1📦
Kerrie: Transgender asylum seeker held in men's facility, denied gender-affirming care by ICEKerrie, a transgender asylum seeker from Guyana, is held in a men's facility and denied gender-affirming care after Nassau County Police worked with ICE to detain her.Apr 22, 2026·Nassau County, NY·Guyana·Instagram📦,YouTube📦,Twitter/X📦
Ezequiel V.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained by CBP at Texas checkpointDr. Ezequiel Veliz, a family-medicine resident physician married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at a Texas checkpoint after losing his work permit when TPS for Venezuelans ended. He was freed on $8,000 bond after ten days.Apr 6, 2026·TX·Venezuela·Info News📦,Latin Times📦,Valley Central,Standing Record,KRGV+1
Ali and Adel: Gay Iranian couple faces deportation, one suffers organ damage in ICE detentionAli and Adel, an Iranian gay couple who fled arrest by Iran's morality police, remain separated in detention facing deportation; Adel has suffered organ damage, weight loss and fainting while held.Apr 2026·El Paso, TX·Iran·TIME📦,CBS News📦,MS Now📦,NDTV📦
Ali and Adel: Gay Iranian couple held by ICE, one in wheelchair without proper careAli and Adel, a gay Iranian couple who fled persecution, were detained after seeking asylum; Adel remains wheelchair-bound without proper medical care as both face possible deportation to Iran.Mar 27, 2026·New Orleans, LA·Iran·TIME📦,CBS News📦,The Hill📦,MS Now📦,The Independent📦,Here New Orleans📦,WGNO📦,NBC Bay Area📦
Hugo R.: Photojournalist hit with nearly two dozen pepper balls at Portland ICE protestHugo Rios, a veteran, parent of two, and grandparent of four working as a photojournalist, was shoved and hit with nearly two dozen pepper balls while filming a Portland ICE protest in September 2025.Mar 9, 2026·Portland, OR·Press Freedom Tracker📦,ACLU of Oregon+2,CourtListener
Moroccan LGBTQ+ woman deported via Cameroon despite judge's order, now hidingA 21-year-old Moroccan woman, despite a judge's order barring her return to Morocco, was deported to Cameroon in January 2026 and then sent back to Morocco, where she now hides.Feb 27, 2026·Alexandria, LA·Morocco·El País📦,Impact Policies📦,ABC7📦,Cameroon Online📦
Oscar: Man on path to U.S. citizenship detained by ICE in CharlotteOscar, applying for U.S. citizenship, was detained while his boyfriend Luis Duque drove him to work in Charlotte. He was sent to Stewart Detention Center and told to self-deport or wait months for a hearing.Feb 26, 2026·Charlotte, NC·Mexico·Charlotte Observer📦,WSOC-TV📦,WBTV📦,Q Notes📦
Ludovic M.: Gay gamer detained by ICE at compliance appointment, faces deportation to CameroonLudovic Mbock, a 38-year-old gamer who has lived in Maryland 18 years, was detained at a routine work permit check-in and faces possible deportation to Cameroon, where he fears danger as a gay man.Feb 17, 2026·Maryland·Cameroon·Daily Voice📦,The Banner+1📦,Event Hubs📦,Instagram+1📦
Rümeysa Ö.: Turkish doctoral student held by ICE over op-ed suffers 12 asthma attacksRümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts, was detained for 45 days and suffered asthma attacks after co-writing a pro-Palestinian op-ed; a judge later terminated her deportation case.Feb 9, 2026·Somerville, MA·Turkey·CNN📦,Los Angeles Times📦,KTVZ📦,Boston.com+1📦,The Columbian📦,ACLU📦,WBUR📦
