The United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration has deported Kenyan athlete and former NFL linebacker Daniel Adongo from the United States following an immigration removal order.
In an official statement from the Department of Homeland Security on July 25, 2026, Adongo was deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 20 after a Department of Justice immigration judge ordered his removal on March 23.
“This CRIMINAL and former NFL linebacker has been DEPORTED after he broke our laws,” the statement read in part.
Authorities said he had overstayed his visa after 2016.
The deportation was announced by ICE, which said Adongo had remained in the country after his lawful immigration status had expired. The agency stated that the removal followed immigration court proceedings that culminated in a final order issued earlier this year.
Adongo’s NFL Career and Criminal Record
Daniel Adongo, a former rugby player, joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2013 through the NFL’s International Player Pathway initiative. He featured in five regular-season games between 2013 and 2015, mainly on special teams, before leaving the franchise in 2015.
According to FOX 59, Adongo was released by the Colts following a police incident in suburban Indianapolis. In the years that followed, he was arrested multiple times in Indiana on various criminal charges.
Federal prosecutors said the former linebacker had been arrested over the past nine years for offenses including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct. He was also convicted of criminal mischief causing damage in 2020 and sentenced to 364 days in jail.
The deportation followed years of immigration and legal proceedings linked to his criminal record and visa status.
ICE Says Deportation Improves Public Safety
Following the deportation, ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said the agency remained committed to enforcing U.S. immigration laws regardless of an individual’s public profile.
“This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed,” Thompson said.
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He added that immigration enforcement applies equally to everyone, including former professional athletes.
“Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes,” Thompson said.
Who is Daniel Adongo: Education, Career and Family Life
Daniel Adongo is a Kenyan former rugby union and American football player who rose to international recognition after joining the National Football League (NFL) despite having no previous experience in the sport.
He studied at Strathmore School in Nairobi for eight years and graduated from Strathmore High School in 2006. He later attended the University of South Africa and also trained at the Sharks Academy as part of his rugby development.
Adongo began his rugby career with the Kenya Harlequins junior team before representing Kenya at the Under-18 and Under-19 levels. He was identified as a promising talent during the 2006 Safari Sevens tournament.
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In 2007, he joined South Africa’s Sharks Academy and progressed through the ranks before making his senior rugby debut in 2010. He later played professionally in South Africa and New Zealand, including for the Southern Kings.
In 2013, Daniel Adongo switched to American football and signed with the Indianapolis Colts through the NFL’s international player development program. He played five regular-season games between 2013 and 2015, mainly on special teams.
Adongo’s family has largely remained out of the public spotlight. Available reports identify his parents as Joseph (Joe) Adongo and Beatrice (Betty) Adongo.
His father publicly appealed for privacy during periods of legal challenges, while later reports indicated that his mother was granted legal guardianship over him during proceedings related to mental health concerns.
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