Although Qnotes regularly reports authentic names in news stories, there are the rare occasions when we make exceptions for safety concerns of the individuals we’re reporting on. That’s the case here. We’ve chosen a couple of names that are common for the country of Azerbaijan: Fazal and Alikhan.
In a recent newsletter from Val Rosenquist, the Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Charlotte, wrote about a November marriage ceremony she and executive Pastor Jim Sanders performed for two men who had immigrated to the United States from Azerbaijan.
The two men were adapting to life in the Queen City comfortably, living in an uptown Charlotte apartment and beginning to build a home renovation business. During what seemed to be a routine immigration appointment for Alikhan in January, Fazal became concerned when his husband failed to return home.
According to a report in the Charlotte Observer, Fazal contacted the immigration facility to find out that Alikhan had been detained and moved to the DHS office on Tyvola Centre Drive. Shortly thereafter he was moved again to the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. For several days there was no report on his missing spouse’s status.
In an interview with the Charlotte Observer, Fazal said of his husband who had literally vanished: “He kind of disappeared. They just stole him, robbed him … You’re doing everything together. You’re cooking here, you’re drinking here, you’re watching TV and that person is no longer with you.”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the rights of federal agents to arrest Alikhan and described him as an “illegal alien” who repeatedly “missed check-ins.”
The couple’s attorney says none of that is true.
During the time Alikhan was held at the Stewart Detention Center, he became increasingly ill. Despite Fazal’s efforts to intercede with a request of medical help for his husband, he was ignored.
Eventually, Fazal reached out again to Rosenquist, the Charlotte pastor from First United Methodist who had performed their wedding ceremony. She contacted the office of North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis.
After Tillis intervened, Alikhan’s medical condition was reviewed and he was given the necessary medication.
The Observer report confirms that Fazal was allowed to visit Alikhan in Georgia for his birthday on January 30. He still exhibited signs of illness and anxiety. Since that time Alikhan officially announced during a court date in early February he would be leaving the United States, or “self deporting,” rather than face possibly endless months in detainment while his case was debated. Faisal has said he will follow him soon after.
As of now their future is somewhat unclear. Both men confirm that finding employment in Azerbaijan will be difficult. They anticipate rural residency and possibly farming to survive. “It’s good that we’ll meet after some time,” Fazal said after their decision was made official. “But that doesn’t change that our own lives (are) just destroyed.”
Fazal and Alikhan’s story of harassment by U.S. immigration officials under the guidance of the Trump administration indicates a possible pattern of action against both immigrants and American-born residents in the LGBTQ+ community. Other reports confirm ICE and DHHS are continuously ramping up overall efforts against immigrants nationwide.
According to news reports, ICE arrested more than 3,300 people in North Carolina in 2025. Throughout the state, reports of random road stops and surprise workplace incursions have increased and North Carolina lawmakers have passed legislation (HB 318) to force local law enforcement officials to cooperate with ICE. Also in the news this month, it was reported that Concord is among 21 cities and towns being considered for a new large Federal immigration detention facility.
The impact of ICE’s actions against the LGBTQ+ community nationwide
In March 2025, openly gay Venezuelan immigrant Andry Hernandez Romero, who legally sought asylum in the United States, was illegally deported to El Salvador and held at the notorious CECOT mega prison. After 125 days he was released and sent back to Venezuela where he is attempting to rebuild his life.
An earlier case that occurred during the first Trump administration was that of Roxsana Hernandez, a transgender woman who was fleeing violence in Honduras. She died while in ICE custody in New Mexico in 2018, reportedly from inadequate medical care.
Then in Minneapolis, there was Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and married to wife Becca, who was fatally shot during an encounter with agents in Minneapolis on January 7.
Another story of immigration injustice for LGBTQ+ individuals comes from a report dated February 23. Farah, who identifies as a 21-year-old gay woman, left the country of Morocco for fear of imprisonment and violence from her family, according to an Associated Press report.
Under the Trump administration she has been forced to return to Morocco, where her own family had attempted to kill her because of her sexual orientation. “It is hard to live and work with the fear of once again being tracked by my family,” she said in the interview. “But there is nothing I can do, I have to work.”