Kenyan former NFL linebacker Daniel Adongo deported from United States

Former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Ogama Adongo, a 37‑year‑old Kenyan who became the NFL’s first Kenyan player, was removed from the United States by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 20, 2026. An immigration judge ordered his removal in March after ICE determined he had overstayed his visa, which expired in 2016, and held a criminal record that includes felony intimidation, battery, disorderly conduct and a 2020 conviction for criminal mischief.

The deportation was carried out in Chicago under the Laken Riley Act, a 2025 law signed by President Donald Trump that mandates detention without bond for certain non‑citizens convicted of crimes. ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said the community was safer after the “dangerous individual” was removed and emphasized that immigration laws apply equally to everyone, including former professional athletes.

Adongo’s NFL career spanned 2013‑2015, during which he appeared in five games for the Colts after transitioning from a rugby background in Kenya and South Africa. He was released by the team in December 2015 following domestic‑violence allegations and subsequently faced multiple arrests in Indiana. His deportation underscores the continued enforcement of stricter immigration policies targeting individuals with criminal convictions.