Russian family living in Charlotte desperate for answers after father was detained by DHS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Russian family living in Charlotte is desperate for answers after a father was taken by Department of Homeland Security agents during an immigration check in appointment in early April.

The Babickaia family left Russia to find safety in the United States a year into Vladmir Putin’s war against Ukraine.

“There was no chance for us to stay in Russia because of political views,” Daniel Babickaia said. “It’s very dangerous to come back to Russia because of his political views, his political activity and social media. There are many cases in Russia when people with the same situation were arrested when they did it.”

The family filed for political asylum in the United States through the CBP One App, which was the main way for people to seek asylum at the order. In March of 2025, the Trump administration renamed the app CBP Home and now it’s used to facilitate self-deportation. Immigrants living in the United States without permanent resident status are subject to annual check-ins at this department of homeland security office.

The Babickaia Family visited the Charlotte office two times for appointments on the third visit on April 7th they arrived for their appointment as a family, but left without their father. The family was scheduled to appear in front of a judge for their asylum case in December 2026.

“We didn’t try to avoid the legal process of the court. He worked, he paid taxes. He has no crimes in the united states,” Daniel Babickaia said.

The family says he’s in a Georgia detention facility with little phone access and poor medical care.

“It’s a hard financial situation right now because he cannot work and support the family. Also, he has no chance to prepare for the court hearing because he has no access, even to papers to write something down,” Babickaia said.

Uri was the main applicant for political asylum, he listed his children and spouse on the same application. The family recently learned they’d have to separately fight deportation.

“We received a notice that, since this moment, I must protect myself in the court by myself. I’m not a member of his case anymore, and my mom as well,” Daniel Babickaia said.

The family says sending Uri back to Russia could force him to face punishment for his vocal opposition to the war. They also say they have established a home here in Charlotte and the youngest children are still in school.

“We are not confident in the future at all, and every day is very hard, because we receive some not really good news every day. He’s upset as well. He’s gone, and it’s hard for him to stay there,” Daniel Babickaia said.