ICE Removes Former Indianapolis Colts Player Daniel Adongo Following Deportation Order

Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Daniel Adongo, a former Indianapolis Colts linebacker, to Kenya on June 20 following a federal deportation order issued in March. Adongo had overstayed his visa since 2016 and accumulated multiple criminal convictions in Indiana, making him subject to mandatory detention under the Laken Riley Act.

The Deportation and Criminal History

The 37-year-old former rugby player was deported after a Department of Justice immigration judge ordered his removal on March 23. According to ICE Chicago, Adongo was arrested multiple times over a nine-year period for crimes including felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. He was convicted of criminal mischief with damage in 2020 and sentenced to 364 days in jail. His case fell under the Laken Riley Act, a federal statute requiring detention without bond for illegal aliens charged or convicted of certain crimes.

Adongo originally came to the United States as a recruited rugby player and joined the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons between 2013 and 2015. He played primarily on special teams and appeared in five games during his NFL tenure. The Colts released him in 2015 following a police incident in suburban Indianapolis. Born in Kenya, Adongo had previously played for rugby teams across South Africa and New Zealand between 2011 and 2013, including the Sharks Rugby team at the youth level.

Immigration Enforcement and Policy Context

ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson characterized Adongo as a threat to public safety in an official statement. "This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he's been removed," Thompson said, adding that "those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes." The Laken Riley Act, signed into law on January 29, 2025, was introduced following the murder of a University of Georgia student by an individual who was previously cited for shoplifting on campus.

The Department of Homeland Security has emphasized criminal deportations as a priority, reporting that nearly 70 percent of ICE arrests involve individuals charged or convicted of crimes in the United States.