Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to ever play in the National Football League (NFL), was deported from the United States in June 2026 following a visa overstay and a series of arrests. The 37-year-old former rugby star, who played for the Indianapolis Colts, had remained in the US despite his visa expiring in 2016, according to federal immigration authorities.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Adongo's removal, stating he had been arrested multiple times in Indiana over the past nine years for various alleged crimes, including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. ICE also cited a 2020 conviction for criminal mischief with damage, which resulted in a one-year jail sentence. Douglas Thompson, ICE Chicago's assistant field office director, described Adongo as a "dangerous individual" and stated that "those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes."
However, Adongo's supporters contend that his only conviction was a misdemeanor, and that the charges leading to his most recent arrest were dismissed. They have also raised serious concerns about his mental health, arguing that he suffered months in harsh immigration detention conditions, which exacerbated a pre-existing serious mental illness. A petition circulated on his behalf suggested doctors and social workers believe he may be living with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), an untreatable brain disease common among athletes in contact sports, caused by repeated head impacts.
The petition criticised ICE for allegedly failing to confirm whether Adongo received adequate mental health treatment during his incarceration, stating, "He needed a doctor, not a cell." Adongo, born in Nairobi in 1989, had a professional rugby union career in South Africa before moving to the US in 2013 to join the Colts. He played in two NFL games before injuries cut short his American football career. His father, Joe Adongo, spoke publicly in 2020 about his son's mental health struggles after concerning videos appeared online.
Adongo's deportation in June, following a federal judge's removal order in March, marks another high-profile case in the Trump administration's ongoing campaign of mass expulsions of undocumented individuals. The case highlights the broader debate surrounding immigration enforcement, the treatment of individuals with mental health issues within the justice system, and the challenges faced by former athletes transitioning out of professional sports, particularly those from international backgrounds.