U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deported former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Ogama Adongo to Kenya after an immigration judge ordered his removal following a visa overstay and multiple encounters with law enforcement.
Adongo, 37, was removed from the United States on June 20 after remaining in the country beyond the expiration of his visa in 2016, ICE said. The former National Football League player had previously been convicted of criminal mischief and was arrested several times over the past decade on additional charges.
Fox News Digital first reported the deportation, citing ICE officials.
What we know so far
ICE said Adongo played linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts from 2013 to 2015 after arriving in the United States as a rugby player.
His professional football career ended in 2015.
Authorities said Adongo overstayed his visa the following year and remained in the country without legal status.
A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered his removal in March 2026. ICE carried out the deportation on June 20.
Officials said Adongo had been arrested multiple times in Indiana over the past nine years.
His criminal history included arrests for felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct.
In 2020, he was convicted of criminal mischief involving property damage and sentenced to 364 days in jail.
ICE said his most recent criminal charges fell under the Laken Riley Act, which requires immigration authorities to detain certain noncitizens without bond when they are charged with or convicted of specified offenses.
What authorities are saying
ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said Adongo’s removal followed both immigration and criminal proceedings.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he has been removed,” Thompson said.
“Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”
The Department of Homeland Security also highlighted the deportation in a post on X, stating that Adongo had been removed after violating U.S. immigration laws and accumulating a criminal record.
ICE said its enforcement priorities include noncitizens convicted of crimes while living in the United States.
The agency said nearly 70 percent of recent ICE arrests involved individuals charged with or convicted of criminal offenses.
Why this matters
Adongo’s case illustrates the intersection of criminal law and immigration enforcement under policies expanded during President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Laken Riley Act, signed into law in January 2025, broadened mandatory detention requirements for certain noncitizens accused or convicted of qualifying crimes while their immigration cases are pending.
Immigration experts say the law has significantly expanded ICE’s authority to detain individuals who are in the country unlawfully and have criminal charges covered by the statute.
The case also highlights that professional athletes, despite their public profiles, remain subject to the same immigration laws as other noncitizens.
What happens next
With Adongo’s deportation completed, his immigration proceedings have concluded.
ICE has not indicated whether he will be eligible to seek lawful reentry into the United States in the future.
No public statement from Adongo or his representatives had been released as of publication.
