ICE removes Daniel Adongo after Colts star's deportation
ICE removes Daniel Adongo, the 37-year-old Kenyan former Indianapolis Colts linebacker, after federal officials confirmed his deportation on June 20, 2026. An immigration judge ordered his removal in March following a visa overstay dating to 2016, and he had been held under the Laken Riley Act.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chicago confirmed Saturday that it removed Adongo from the United States. The agency said he overstayed a visa that expired in 2016, the year after his NFL career ended. ICE described him as a "dangerous" individual and said he was held without bond under the Laken Riley Act.
Key Takeaways
- ICE removed former Colts linebacker Daniel Adongo on June 20, 2026, after a March removal order.
- Adongo overstayed his U.S. visa beginning in 2016 and faced detention under the Laken Riley Act.
- He has one conviction: Class A misdemeanor criminal mischief in 2020, with a 364-day jail sentence.
- The Kenyan rugby convert appeared in five NFL games and earned roughly $694,000 with Indianapolis.
Why did ICE remove Daniel Adongo from the United States?
According to an ICE Chicago news release, a Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Adongo removed on March 23, 2026. ICE then removed him on June 20.
Officials said Adongo, whose full name is Daniel Ogama Adongo, overstayed his visa after his football career ended in 2015. ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, "including former professional athletes."
His most recent criminal charges fell under the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention without bond of certain noncitizens for specified crimes. President Trump signed that law on Jan. 29, 2025.
What criminal and mental health history did officials cite?
ICE said Adongo was arrested multiple times by Indiana law enforcement over nine years for crimes including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct. USA Today reported he has one conviction—a Class A misdemeanor for criminal mischief in 2020—and that other charges were dismissed.
Court records reviewed by the Indianapolis Star show judges twice found Adongo incompetent to stand trial. In one filing, Dr. Jason Jaronik wrote that Adongo was acutely psychotic and raised the possibility of a traumatic brain injury from his playing days. Family members have said they believe his illness is tied to athletic injuries; no such link can be confirmed in a living patient, USA Today noted.
How did Adongo go from rugby to the NFL?
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson signed Adongo in July 2013 while the 23-year-old was playing Super Rugby in South Africa. Adongo had never watched a football game. He appeared in five games over three seasons, played one defensive snap, and earned roughly $694,000 before Indianapolis waived him in December 2015.
That release came a week after police were called to his home over a reported domestic disturbance—the second call in two months. No charges were filed in either case, according to USA Today.
For more stories in this section, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.