First Kenyan NFL Player Deported Under Trump Immigration Crackdown

Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in the NFL, was deported in June following a federal judge’s removal order, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The 37-year-old former Indianapolis Colts linebacker overstayed a visa that expired in 2016 and accumulated multiple arrests over a nine-year period in Indiana, federal immigration authorities stated.

Federal Authorities Cite Community Safety and Criminal Record

“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed,” Douglas Thompson, ICE Chicago’s assistant field office director, said in a public statement. Thompson added that individuals who violate immigration law face equal accountability, regardless of past professional athletic status.

According to ICE records, Adongo faced multiple arrests in Indiana for crimes including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. The federal agency noted that the criminal charges fell under the Laken Riley Act, legislation requiring mandatory detention without bond for undocumented immigrants accused of certain offenses.

Contasting Accounts Over Legal History and Mental Health

Supporters of the former athlete dispute the severity of his criminal record. According to a petition circulated to prevent his deportation, Adongo’s only actual conviction was a misdemeanor, and the charges leading to his most recent arrest were ultimately dismissed. Advocates also maintained that he endured harsh conditions in immigration detention, during which his serious mental health struggles intensified.

“Doctors and social workers who worked with him believe he may also be living with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE – an untreatable brain disease caused by repeated head impacts, common among athletes who played contact sports,” stated a release accompanying the advocacy petition. The document asserted that ICE never confirmed whether Adongo received adequate mental health treatment while incarcerated. “He needed a doctor, not a cell,” the petition read.

NFL Career and Subsequent Struggles

Born in Nairobi in 1989, Adongo joined the Indianapolis Colts as an outside linebacker in 2013. He appeared in two regular-season games before suffering injury setbacks. The Colts released him in December 2015 after police responded to domestic violence calls at his residence twice within a three-month span, according to an Indianapolis Star report.

In 2020, the player’s father, Joe Adongo, publicly discussed his son’s deteriorating mental well-being after social media footage showed the former athlete looking disheveled with multiple nasal piercings. While federal authorities focused on his immigration status and criminal history, advocates continued to highlight the intersection of contact sports injuries, mental illness, and immigration enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Daniel Adongo deported?

ICE stated that Adongo was deported due to overstaying a visa that expired in 2016 and accumulating multiple arrests in Indiana, which led to a federal judge signing a removal order in March.

What team did Daniel Adongo play for in the NFL?

Adongo played two seasons as a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, appearing in two regular-season games during his time with the team.

What health concerns did Adongo’s supporters raise?

Advocates and medical professionals involved in his case stated that he suffered from severe mental illness and expressed concern that he may be living with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) resulting from his career in contact sports.