Martela is hopeful that Chaubal will be granted asylum in the United States, because it is illegal to be gay in India, and it is not uncommon for trans people to experience violence and harassment in India. But the past 48 hours have also left her worried about the safety of Chaubal and other trans immigrants at a time when the President-elect's political agenda involves curtailing the rights of immigrants and deporting immigrants.
"I'm afraid this is what the country is going to be like over the next four years," she said.
Virginia Kice, a regional spokeswoman for ICE, confirmed Chaubal is in ICE custody in an email to Chicagoist Friday evening, but said ICE cannot release information about individuals in custody without their signed consent.