Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan-born player to reach the NFL, has been deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after authorities determined that he remained in the United States beyond the expiration of his visa and accumulated multiple criminal convictions.
ICE said Adongo, who played as a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts from 2013 to 2015, stayed in the country after his visa expired in 2016. According to the agency, the deportation was carried out on Monday following immigration enforcement proceedings.
Multiple Arrests and Criminal Convictions
Federal immigration officials stated that Adongo was arrested by law enforcement in Indiana on several occasions over the past nine years. The reported offenses included felony intimidation, battery, disorderly conduct and property-related crimes.
ICE also noted that Adongo received a sentence of nearly one year in jail in 2020 after being convicted of criminal mischief involving damage to private property.
Recent Charges Filed Under the Laken Riley Act
The agency said Adongo’s most recent criminal charges fell under the Laken Riley Act, legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump in January 2025. The law requires the detention of certain undocumented immigrants accused of specified criminal offenses while their immigration cases are pending.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is safer now that he has been removed,” said Douglas Thompson, assistant field office director for ICE in Chicago. “Anyone who violates U.S. immigration law will be held accountable, including former professional athletes.”
Part of a Broader Increase in Immigration Enforcement
The deportation comes as immigration arrests continue to rise across the United States. According to the information released by ICE, combined arrests carried out by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) exceeded 43,000 in June, marking the highest monthly total since the beginning of President Trump’s second term in January 2025.
Adongo made history as the first Kenyan-born athlete to play in the NFL after transitioning from rugby to American football. His professional football career ended in 2015, and U.S. authorities said his immigration status became unlawful after his visa expired the following year.