Georgia Veteran Detained by ICE After 52 Years in U.S.

Godfrey Wade, a 65-year-old Army veteran, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for three months at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Wade, who emigrated to the United States at the age of 13, found himself in ICE custody following a routine traffic stop in September 2023. Officers discovered he was driving without a valid license and lacked proper documentation as a U.S. citizen.

Wade’s detainment has sparked public outcry, highlighting the complexities surrounding veterans’ immigration status. His fiancée, April Watkins, recorded the incident as he was taken into custody and expressed frustration about the difficulties they faced in their efforts to secure legal citizenship. “We had an attorney, but it’s a very expensive endeavor; the cost is astronomical,” she said. “Still, he did make the effort. We did a lot of things to make sure this day would not come, and yet here we are.”

Wade’s Military Service and Life After the Army

Wade joined the Army in the mid-1970s and served with the 7th Infantry Division in Aschaffenburg, Germany, earning medals for good conduct and wartime service. After leaving the military, he pursued various careers, including fashion design, tailoring, coaching tennis, and working as a chef. At the time of his arrest, he was employed at the Georgia Capitol Café. Wade had been actively working with Watkins to navigate the legal process for citizenship prior to his detainment.

Reflecting on his long tenure in the U.S., Wade stated, “For 52 years I’ve lived in this country and raised my children, worked hard, paid my taxes. A lot of the processes of immigration I didn’t know about. I’m learning more while I’m in here.”

Detention Conditions Raise Concerns

Reports from the Stewart Detention Center reveal troubling conditions for detainees. Wade described sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor for nearly two weeks due to overcrowding. “We don’t have any bunk space,” he noted, explaining that detainees are given thin mats on the floor. In addition to inadequate sleeping arrangements, Wade reported severe sanitation issues, including a lack of sufficient toilets for the number of detainees.

According to records obtained by 11Alive from the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO), the facility was cited for numerous deficiencies during its last inspection, including health and safety violations. The center is supposed to maintain a ratio of 12 detainees per toilet; however, the ratio at Stewart is significantly higher. Efforts to reach CoreCivic, the contractor operating the facility, for comments have so far gone unanswered.

Wade’s detainment has not only affected him but also deeply impacted his family. With six children and three grandchildren, his absence is felt acutely. Wade’s daughter, Christian, expressed the emotional strain of explaining her father’s situation to her young children. “It’s been hard trying to communicate why granddad is not available,” she said. “He doesn’t want them to see him behind that plexiglass. He doesn’t want them to see what he looks like.”

Despite the hardships, Wade remains hopeful. “If I didn’t believe this country is still great, I wouldn’t want to stay here,” he remarked, reflecting on his service. He has not yet had the opportunity to present his case to a judge, and he was informed that a notice of a previous hearing had been sent to the wrong address in 2014.

Wade’s situation has prompted lawmakers to call for improved protections for veterans facing deportation. A memo obtained by 11Alive from Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia indicated that the Department of Defense would provide a list of deported or detained veterans, but deadlines for this information have been missed. Johnson’s office has not received updates despite repeated inquiries.

Watkins hopes Wade’s predicament will lead to a broader discussion about the treatment of non-citizen veterans. “If you served this country, you deserve a chance to stay in this country,” she said. “That is the hope for not only him but for any veteran who sits in a detention center.”