Former National Football League (NFL) player Daniel Adongo has been deported to Kenya over a past visa overstay and a criminal record, as US authorities toughen their stance on unwanted foreigners.
Adongo, once a rugby player, made history when he switched to American football. He played for the Indianapolis Colts as a linebacker. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Saturday that Adongo had been removed from the US over a series of crimes.
“This criminal and former NFL linebacker has been deported after he broke our laws,” ICE said on its X page.
“Daniel Ogama Adongo, from Kenya, has a criminal record in the US that includes arrests for criminal mischief with damage, felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct.”
Adongo’s removal from the US followed a visa overstay from 2016. He was deported under the Laken Riley Act, a new law passed by the Donald Trump administration.
A screengrab taken on August 14, 2020 from an online video, shows Kenya's history making Daniel Adongo in a disturbing state. He is the country's first player to play in the National Football League (NFL).
Photo credit: Screen Grab | Nation Media Group
The Laken Riley Act became law in January 2025, one of the first decisions Trump made soon after returning to office. It significantly expands mandatory immigration detention and limits federal discretion in releasing non-citizens during immigration proceedings. It amends multiple sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the Act, the Department of Homeland Security can detain non-US nationals, whether documented or undocumented, who are arrested, charged with, convicted of, or admit to certain crimes. These include theft, burglary, shoplifting, assault on law enforcement, or offences causing serious injury or death. It allows states to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement decisions. Adongo was caught up under this law.
Daniel Ogama Adongo is a 37-year-old Kenyan former professional NFL player. He was ordered removed by a Department of Justice judge on March 23, 2026. He was subsequently ordered deported from Chicago on June 20, 2026.
Adongo overstayed his original visa and was subjected to detention without bond provisions because he had a qualifying criminal history, including a 2020 conviction for criminal mischief. Because he had overstayed his visa, he was no longer legally allowed to remain in the United States. Authorities say he remained in the US for several years after his visa expired following the end of his NFL career.
Adongo rose to international prominence in 2013 when he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, despite having no previous experience of playing American football. He transitioned from Kenyan rugby to the NFL, becoming one of Kenya’s most recognised athletes and inspiring many aspiring sportsmen across the country.
His NFL career was brief, lasting only two seasons before he was released by the Colts in 2015. Although he stayed in the United States after leaving professional football, his life was later marked by legal and immigration challenges that ultimately led to his deportation.
Daniel Adongo, (right) with his Indianapolis Colts teammates during practice at the NFL team's football training camp in Anderson, Indiana, on July 29, 2013.
Adongo’s deportation comes amid an unprecedented clampdown on unauthorised immigrants by the Trump administration. This includes the recent high-profile deportation of four Kenyans named on the Department of Homeland Security’s “Worst of the Worst” webpage, which highlights individuals DHS says are among the most dangerous criminals arrested by ICE. Kenyan US-based athletics coach Haron Lagat is empathetic about Adongo’s situation.
He says: “As coaches, we spend years helping athletes represent our country with honour. When one of them finds themselves in a difficult legal situation abroad, we also have a responsibility to speak up and advocate fairness.
Adongo’s deportation closes a chapter on one of Kenya’s most illustrious and promising sportsmen, whose meteoric rise was followed by an equally cataclysmic fall. Like Icarus in Greek mythology, who flew too close to the sun after becoming intoxicated with the thrill of flight, the thrill of the NFL might have become Adongo’s undoing.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to remove quotes that were found to be inaccurate. The article has been amended to ensure it accurately reflects the verified facts and statements. We regret the error and remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and accountability in our journalism.
