US based-Kenyan chooses to be deported after 2 months in immigration detention

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - A Kenyan priest who also works as a Texas state employee has opted to voluntarily depart the United States after spending nearly two months in immigration detention, with his lawyers stressing that the decision is a calculated legal step to safeguard his future rights, not an acknowledgment of any wrongdoing.

Rev. James Eliud Ngahu Mwangi, who served as an assistant rector in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and worked as a correctional officer, opted for self-deportation and is expected to return to Kenya this month.

Rev. Mwangi's ordeal began on October 25, 2025, when he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Huntsville, Texas, following a routine traffic stop, Tuko News reports.

ICE officials alleged that Rev. Mwangi had overstayed a B-1 business visa and was under a departure order effective May 16, 2024. However, his employer, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), confirmed he possessed a valid work authorization through 2029, a fact verified via the federal E-Verify system.

Rev. Mwangi's attorney, Laban O. Opande, emphasized that the priest had a pending asylum application, which legally permitted him to work and reside in the U.S. while his case was reviewed.

Despite his pending application, an immigration judge denied him bond, prolonging his detention.

"He feels like he's in prison," Opande noted to the Houston Chronicle. "He has endured confinement without cause, and it has been deeply stressful."

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas voiced its strong support for the priest, expressing "deep concern" over his arrest and calling for humane treatment.

Bishop C. Andrew Doyle stated, "This priest has served both the Church and the State of Texas faithfully." The diocese confirmed it was providing legal and pastoral support to Mwangi and his family throughout the ordeal.

After getting frustrated with detention, Rev. Mwangi chose what his legal team calls a strategic departure. Opting for voluntary return, rather than being formally deported, may preserve his eligibility to legally re-enter the U.S. in the future.