Nolan Hanson, a transgender boxer and trainer at Gleasons Gym in New York, is fighting to free his mentor and friend, Talap Mamyrkanov, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.Mamyrkanov, a Central Asian Muslim, fled Russia in 2019 to escape religious and ethnic persecution and sought asylum in the United States. Despite complying with his routine immigration check-ins, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained him during a March appointment. Related Imane Khelif challenges World Boxing over mandatory sex test policy I was looking at the clock and just really distracted the whole day. I knew something was wrong, Hanson told Advocate. The next day I went on this website where you can look up people to see if theyve been detained by ICE, and thats where I found him.Mamyrkanov was transferred from New York City to New Jersey, then to upstate New York, before being placed on track for deportation. Nearly six months later, he remains in ICE custody. However, Hanson was able to help Mamyrkanov connect with an attorney who successfully halted his deportation and reopened his asylum claim, which had been denied in 2021. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In an essay for CounterPunch, Hanson wrote, I became Talaps advocate on the outside, and I learned that he entered the U.S. in 2019 after fleeing Russia, where he had faced decades of persecution and discrimination, and potential retribution and harm to his family. Mamyrkanovs hearing is scheduled for this week, and Hanson hopes it will allow him to return to the gym.Without him, [his students] just dont really want to box, Hanson said. Its traumatic, you know? I mean, youve got no preparation. He was just gone suddenly. Mamyrkanov is one of more than 200,000 people who have been targeted for detainment and deportation since Donald Trump returned to office. Many of those targeted face serious risks if deported due to their gender identity, sexual orientation, or support for LGBTQ people. According to the Free Talap website, Mamyrkanov also faces persecution related to his advocacy and support of trans and non-binary boxers if deported.In 2017 Hanson launched Trans Boxing atGleasons, starting with a weekly class for transgender and gender-diverse participants. The project quickly evolved into a community that produced a publication, art shows, workshops, and a podcast. In 2023, Mamyrkanov joined Trans Boxing, a boxing club that centers trans and gender variant people, as a coach.Talap goes above and beyond to support all LGBTQ+ boxers, the website explains. He has an effortless way with folks, making anyone he is around feel comfortable and affirmed, and he brings an intensity and rigor that has had incredibly positive impact on the competitiveness of the athletes he trains.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.