Trump isn’t bending the rules for anyone.
A former NFL player who became the first Kenyan to compete in the league has been deported after federal immigration officials determined he remained in the United States years after his visa expired.
Daniel Adongo, a former linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, was removed from the country on June 20 after an immigration judge ordered his deportation earlier this year. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Adongo overstayed his visa in 2016, one year after his NFL career ended.
The case highlights the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on enforcing immigration laws, including visa overstays, which officials say remain a significant part of illegal immigration in the United States.
Adongo, 37, made history in 2013 when he signed with the Colts after previously playing rugby. His journey from Kenya to the NFL attracted international attention and made him the first Kenyan-born player to appear in the league.
According to ICE, Adongo was convicted in 2020 of misdemeanor criminal mischief involving property damage. Court records show he received a 364-day jail sentence, although credit for time already served reduced his actual incarceration to about six months.
Federal officials also noted that Adongo had previously been arrested on allegations including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. Those charges were later dismissed and did not result in convictions.
ICE said Adongo’s most recent legal issues fell under provisions of the Laken Riley Act, which requires federal authorities to detain certain illegal immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted of specified criminal offenses. The agency did not identify which allegations qualified under the law.
ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson defended the agency’s actions.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed. Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”
The deportation has also drawn attention because of concerns raised by Adongo’s attorneys regarding his mental health.
According to court filings cited by the Indianapolis Star, medical professionals believed years of football and rugby may have contributed to significant neurological problems. One physician reportedly described Adongo as suffering from acute psychosis while also noting evidence of a traumatic brain injury.
A mental health social worker who treated Adongo for several years suggested he may have been experiencing symptoms consistent with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head trauma. However, medical experts note that CTE cannot be definitively diagnosed in a living person and can only be confirmed through an autopsy.
The NFL formally acknowledged the connection between repeated head injuries and CTE in 2016. Since then, growing research has examined the long-term effects of brain trauma on former football players.
Despite those medical concerns, ICE said Adongo’s immigration violations and criminal record supported his removal under federal law. The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly addressed whether his reported mental health condition played any role in the deportation decision.
The deportation comes as the Trump administration continues expanding immigration enforcement efforts, with officials emphasizing that visa overstays and immigration violations will be enforced regardless of an individual’s fame, profession, or public profile.
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