Immigrant living in Charlotte struggling to self-deport

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A man living in Charlotte was detained by agents during a check-in appointment. It happened in January and Tural Atakishiyev has been in a Georgia detention center since then.

Samir Gadirov says his friend Tural Atakishiyev had been following all the rules trying to comply with immigration orders to stay in the country.

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“I know that Tural went in every in person check-in and also online check-ins,” Gadirov said. “He has a phone application in his phone that he took some pictures every week.”

Gadirov has a Green card. He says Atakishiyev’s attorney advised the friends to become partners to solidify his status in the U.S. He says the attorney told them “LGBT is the strongest legal approach to protect Atakishiyev from deportation.”

“He’s my just friend. He, uh, he stayed in Charlotte, and I stay in Charlotte. So we we are just good friends,” Gadirov said. “We just believed our attorney and now we are struggling about this issue because it became a little bit viral and also people start sharing the wrong information.”

In January, Atakishiyev visited the DHS Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office on St. Vardell Lane and never came home. He was taken to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia.

“This is the most frustrating part because, if you do things correctly, so they detain you,” Gadirov said.

Atakishiyev wants to self deport to his home country of Azerbaijan. Samir says a judge has approved the request but Atakishiyev is still locked up with no release date.

“The case already terminated, and there is no future court hearing for Tural. So now he just need to arrange his deportation,” Gadirov said.

WCCB has reported on long lines at the DHS office in Charlotte on Tyvola Centre Drive. Gadirov believes staffing problems lead to major delays.

“There is no enough staff to deal with the immigration,” Gadirov said. “I would say that’s why it takes so long because there are millions and millions of immigrants.”

WCCB reached out to the Department of Homeland Security about Atakishiyev’s case. ICE Regional Spokesman Lindsay Williams sent a statement about the delays in self-deportations.

“ICE is committed to safe and orderly removals, including voluntary departures. Delays may occur because travel documents must be issued by foreign governments, which can take time and require additional verification. Removal logistics, such as flight scheduling and compliance with regulations, can also impact timing. We continue to work with foreign governments to expedite the process and appreciate the patience of affected individuals and their families.”

He give us any specific details about his case but he says it could take a while before the U.S. pays for the flight and gives an individual the $2600 in the form of a gift card.