US Immigration and Customs Enforcement don deport Kenyan man wey don play for NFL, Daniel Adongo, from Chicago on June 20, 2025. Dis one happen after Department of Justice immigration judge don order im deportation since March.
According to Fox 59, ICE say Adongo remain for United States after im visa expire in 2016, and im criminal record make am priority for immigration enforcement. Di 37-year-old, wey be di first Kenyan to play for NFL, don get conviction for criminal mischief wey involve property damage for 2020. Dem sentence am to 364 days for jail.
ICE say police don arrest Adongo plenty times for Indiana over di past nine years for offences like felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. But dem no state if all di arrests lead to convictions. ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson tok say, “Dis dangerous individual na clear threat to community, wey don safer now wey dem don remove am.”
ICE also mention say di Laken Riley Act require dem to hold Adongo without bond because im dey for country illegally and don get conviction for qualifying offence. Di law, wey US President Donald Trump sign, expand mandatory detention for some undocumented immigrants wey dem accuse or convict of certain crimes.
Before im legal wahala, Adongo make rare transition from African rugby to American football. Indianapolis Colts sign am for 2013 even though im no get gridiron experience. Im don attend University of Pretoria, play for South Africa’s Sharks for youth level from 2007 to 2010, and represent teams for South Africa and New Zealand between 2011 and 2013 before di Colts turn am to linebacker. Adongo play five NFL games, mainly for special teams, between 2013 and 2015 before di Colts release am after police incident for suburban Indianapolis.
Adongo no be di only high-profile African-born person to face immigration enforcement for United States. For June 2025, ICE detain Senegalese-born social media star Khaby Lame for airport for Las Vegas after authorities say im overstay im visa. Lame get permission to leave voluntarily, no be like Adongo wey follow removal order.
