Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in the NFL, was deported in June for a visa overstay and multiple arrests, according to federal immigration authorities. The former rugby star turned linebacker spent two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, playing in two games before being cut in 2015 after domestic violence allegations.
Deportation and Criminal History
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Adongo, 37, overstayed his visa after it expired in 2016. He was arrested multiple times in Indiana over nine years for crimes including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. The agency cited a 2020 criminal mischief conviction that resulted in a one-year jail sentence.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed,” said Douglas Thompson, ICE Chicago’s assistant field office director. “Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”
Supporters Cite Mental Health Concerns
Supporters of the player argue that his only conviction was a misdemeanor and that charges leading to his most recent arrest were dismissed. They claim Adongo spent months in harsh immigration detention, exacerbating his serious mental illness. A petition to prevent his deportation stated, “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.”
ICE did not confirm whether Adongo received mental health treatment during his incarceration. “This is not justice,” the petition said. “He needed a doctor, not a cell.”
Background and Legal Context
Born in Nairobi in 1989, Adongo played professional rugby union in South Africa before moving to the US in 2013 to join the Colts as an outside linebacker with no football experience. He played in two games before injury setbacks. His father, Joe Adongo, spoke in 2020 about his son’s mental challenges after a video showed him dishevelled with nasal piercings.
ICE stated that Adongo faced criminal charges under the Laken Riley Act, which mandates detention without bond for undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes. His deportation in June followed a federal judge’s removal order in March, marking a high-profile case in the Trump administration’s mass expulsion campaign.
