Daniel Adongo, a 37-year-old former linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts, was deported in June following a removal order signed by a federal judge in March, according to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Adongo, who was born in Nairobi and moved to the United States in 2013, became the first Kenyan to play in the National Football League. His visa expired in 2016, but he remained in the country.
The ICE statement characterized Adongo as “a dangerous individual” and “a threat to the community.” According to federal authorities, Adongo was arrested multiple times over nine years in Indiana on charges including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct. The agency cited a 2020 criminal mischief conviction for which he was sentenced to a year in jail. Adongo was cut from the Colts in 2015 after the team responded to domestic violence calls at his home, according to reporting from that period.
Supporters of the former player, however, dispute aspects of the government’s characterization. They assert his only conviction was a misdemeanor and that charges related to his most recent arrest were dismissed. The supporters also raised concerns about his mental health, noting he spent months in immigration detention under harsh conditions. They stated that medical professionals who evaluated him believe he may have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain injury associated with repeated head impacts common in contact sports athletes. According to advocates, it remains unclear whether Adongo received mental health treatment during his detention.
Adongo’s deportation represents the latest high-profile case in the immigration enforcement campaign pursued by the Trump administration during its second term. He was charged under the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention without bond for undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes.
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