Former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Adongo has been deported from the United States, with federal immigration officials saying the ex-NFL player was removed after overstaying his visa and accumulating a criminal record. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Adongo, a native of Kenya, was removed from the country on June 20 after a Department of Justice immigration judge ordered his removal in March.
According to ICE, Adongo remained in the U.S. after his visa expired in 2016, a year after his football career ended. Officials say he was subject to mandatory detention under the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of non-U.S. citizens who commit certain crimes.
During the last decade, Adongo was arrested multiple times, according to authorities. ICE says his criminal history includes arrests for felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct. He was also convicted in 2020 of criminal mischief causing damage and sentenced to 364 days in jail. Court records show judges twice found Adongo incompetent to stand trial, with one doctor noting he was “acutely psychotic” and raising the possibility of a traumatic brain injury from his playing days.
Adongo’s path to the NFL was anything but traditional. The Kenyan athlete was recruited to the United States as a rugby player before making the leap to football, signing with the Colts in 2013 . He appeared in five games over three seasons, playing one defensive snap, before being waived in December 2015. He was the first Kenyan to play in the NFL.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed,” ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said in a statement. “Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”
