Detained Ugandan Asylum Seeker Faces Deportation Amid Community Support

Fri Feb 06 2026 00:05:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan minister and healthcare worker seeking asylum in the US, was detained by ICE in Vermont, raising concerns of deportation and igniting support from local advocates and lawmakers.

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker residing in Vermont, was detained by ICE outside a healthcare facility where he works, prompting fears of imminent deportation. Tendo, who fled persecution in Uganda, has been given legal support by local advocates and faced prior challenges in the asylum system. As community members rally for his release, two U.S. lawmakers express their concerns about the potential consequences of deportation on Tendo.

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan minister and healthcare assistant seeking asylum in the US, was detained by federal immigration agents outside a health facility where he works. Tendo moved to Vermont in 2021 and had been living under the protection of ICE while awaiting the outcome of his asylum case.

His detention occurred while he was scheduled for a normal check-in with ICE, raising suspicions among union members and advocates about the timing and the implications for his immigration status. Tendo's lawyers are actively pursuing legal avenues to secure his release, citing significant fears of possible deportation.

Tendo's history is marked by severe persecution in his home country, where he faced torture and threats due to his human rights activism. This detention could mean a return to a situation he has described as a death sentence. Community support has surged, with local advocates and lawmakers publicly expressing their outrage and calling for his immediate release.

Vermont's congressional delegation has condemned Tendo's detention, declaring him a person who deserves protection under the asylum system established to safeguard individuals fleeing threats in their native lands. As the legal battle unfolds, supporters continue to mobilize, highlighting the precariousness of Tendo's situation and the broader issues surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States.