Russian asylum seekers who escaped Putin’s persecution are finding themselves locked in American “gulags” instead of the freedom they desperately sought.
At a Glance
- Russian immigrants who’ve been granted asylum are still being detained indefinitely by ICE, with no release date in sight
- LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and political dissidents face “death sentences” if deported back to Russia
- Families are being separated at the border despite winning asylum cases in court
- The Biden administration is appealing immigration court victories for Russians, while conditions in detention facilities deteriorate
- Fears mount that a second Trump administration would make the situation even worse for Russian asylum seekers
From One Prison to Another
America used to be the beacon of hope for those fleeing Soviet and now Russian oppression. But for thousands of Russians seeking asylum in the United States today, they’ve jumped from Putin’s frying pan straight into ICE’s fire. Over 6,600 detainees from former Soviet countries were processed in a 12-month period, with many remaining in detention facilities even after judges grant them asylum. This isn’t just bureaucratic incompetence – it’s a policy shift targeting Russians specifically, turning what should be a temporary processing step into indefinite imprisonment.
For Albert Khamitov, an HIV-positive Russian with a heart condition who fled persecution for being LGBTQ+, the American dream has become a nightmare. Despite winning his asylum case, he remains behind bars due to a Department of Homeland Security appeal. The physical and emotional toll has driven him to desperate measures, including hunger strikes.
A Death Sentence Awaits
The stakes couldn’t be higher for these asylum seekers. Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws have become increasingly draconian under Putin’s regime, with state-sanctioned persecution at an all-time high. Political dissidents face equally grim prospects if returned. Yet our immigration system seems hellbent on sending these people back to face torture or worse. According to advocates, detention has become the default rather than the exception, reversing longstanding policies that allowed asylum seekers to remain free while awaiting hearings.
“Deporting people back to Russia is like giving them a death sentence” – Kirill Surnachev.
The nonprofit “Ours in the USA” has documented over 55 cases of prolonged, seemingly arbitrary detention of Russian-speaking LGBTQ asylum seekers. Immigration attorneys report bizarre patterns in these cases – wins in court followed immediately by government appeals, endless detention without explanation, and a blatant disregard for DHS’s own 2009 directive calling for releasing asylum seekers with credible fear claims while their cases proceed.
Families Ripped Apart
As if indefinite detention weren’t traumatic enough, families seeking asylum together are being systematically separated. The Ponomorev family fled Russia after opposing the Ukraine invasion, only to have their father detained upon arrival while seeking asylum. For children, these separations cause severe psychological damage including anxiety and depression. A UCLA report criticizes Customs and Border Protection’s culture that promotes these cruel family separations, but apparently nobody in the administration is listening.
“It’s torture to be here. I can’t sleep or eat and my health is deteriorating every day” – Albert Khamitov.
These detention facilities, many run by private contractor GEO Group under lucrative contracts with ICE, are notorious for poor conditions. Detainees report lack of medical care, insufficient food, and abysmal living conditions. Basic necessities for preparing asylum cases – internet access, legal documents, even contact with attorneys – are often restricted or entirely unavailable. It’s a system designed to break people down and force them to give up.
A Political Football
The selective targeting of Russians raises serious questions about whether geopolitics is influencing detention decisions. Some officials cite security concerns about potential spies or extremists, but this justification rings hollow when applied to LGBTQ individuals and political dissidents who would be most at risk if returned to Russia. What’s really happening appears to be a perfect storm of bureaucratic inertia, private prison profit motives, and a dysfunctional immigration system that nobody has the political courage to fix.
“If a Russian is released, it’s a miracle.” – Anastasiya Sack.
A federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by 276 former Soviet plaintiffs challenging their detention, citing jurisdictional issues rather than addressing the merits. Meanwhile, advocates worry that should Trump return to office, the situation will only worsen for these vulnerable asylum seekers. Let’s be clear – that’s saying something, given the Biden administration’s already abysmal handling of their plight. The question becomes not whether these asylum seekers will find justice, but whether they can endure long enough in America’s detention system to avoid being sent back to face Putin’s wrath.
