A former NFL player with a history of criminal charges was deported last month after overstaying his visa for nearly a decade, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Saturday.
Daniel Ogama Adongo, 37, a Kenyan national who played linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, was removed from the United States on June 20 following an immigration judge’s order issued in March. The former athlete had accumulated multiple arrests in Indiana over a nine-year period before his deportation.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed,” said Douglas Thompson, assistant field office director for ICE Chicago. “Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”
Criminal History and Legal Proceedings
According to ICE, Adongo faced charges including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct during his time in the United States. In 2020, he was convicted of criminal mischief with damage, receiving a 364-day sentence.
The former linebacker had overstayed his visa beginning in 2016, one year after his NFL career ended. An immigration judge ordered his deportation on March 23, 2026.
“This CRIMINAL and former NFL linebacker has been DEPORTED after he broke our laws,” ICE wrote in a social media post announcing the deportation. “Our communities are SAFER now that this criminal is OUT of our country.”
Brief NFL Career
Adongo played for the Colts for two seasons between 2013 and 2015. Originally from Kenya, he was recruited to the team based on his background as a rugby player, a relatively unusual path to professional American football.
His time with the NFL organization ended in 2015, but he remained in the country beyond the expiration of his visa the following year.
Broader Deportation Efforts
The deportation comes as the Trump administration continues its immigration enforcement campaign. According to Department of Homeland Security data obtained by The Daily Wire, ICE has deported approximately 706,000 individuals since President Trump’s return to office.
Some immigration enforcement advocates have characterized that figure as falling short of the administration’s mass deportation goals. Todd Bensman, who recently departed his position as senior adviser to the ICE Office of the Director, suggested the pace may accelerate.
“Bed space and detention centers had to be rebuilt and 10,000 agents hired and Congress wouldn’t pass the big beautiful budget bill for the first six months,” Bensman told The Daily Wire. “Everything is finally in place now so I’m optimistic the numbers will only climb higher from here.”
Pressure on ICE Operations
Agency sources have reported increased pressure to boost arrest numbers while simultaneously pursuing high-priority cases. One ICE source described the dual mandate as creating operational challenges.
“It’s wearing everyone out,” the source said. “And at the same time, they want big arrests … but those take time to sit and find and wait. No vehicle stops too, which is harder. So they want big arrests and numbers at the same time. It’s hard to do both, not enough time or days to do it.”
The deportation of Adongo represents one of the more high-profile removals under the current administration’s enforcement priorities, demonstrating that criminal history combined with immigration violations can lead to deportation regardless of a person’s former professional status.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-deports-ex-nfl-player