Godfrey Wade, an Army veteran from Covington, Georgia, who has lived in the U.S. for more than 50 years, is now facing deportation.
For almost five months now, the Jamaican-born veteran has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, with an emergency stay of removal being denied. His attorney said an appeal is pending, CBS reported.
Family and friends who are fighting his deportation said his years of service in the military should be considered in his case. His fiancée April Watkins feels his absence, “We’ve built an amazing life together, and to be separated from that is very challenging, especially since he did not have an opportunity to have his voice heard.”
Wade was a teen when he came to the U.S. lawfully in 1975. He joined the Army and served overseas before being honorably discharged. “That was his foundation, and he took pride in it and made us believe in the U.S. Army,” his daughter Emmanuela Wade said to CBS.
He continued to live in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident for years, working as a chef, tennis coach, and fashion designer before his troubles began in 2025.
On September 13, 2025, officers pulled him over after claims he failed to use a turn signal in Conyers. Wade was arrested for driving without a license and not long after, ICE detained him because of a 2014 removal order emanating from a 2007 bounced check and a 2006 simple assault charge.
His attorney said the assault concerned a domestic argument where “a glass of milk was spilled and pots and pans were knocked to the floor. No physical violence was ever alleged.” Wade said he paid the bounced check and related fines in full.
“Someone’s old mistakes does not define who they are,” Wade’s daughter, Christian Wade, said. “Understand the context. There’s more to a story than just four words, and people need to see the humanity of the person.”
Watkins added, “No one is perfect. He restituted the money. He has an amazing relationship with his children as well as his ex-wife.”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told 11Alive recently that the removal order was issued after Wade failed to appear for an immigration hearing in 2014.
But his attorney said Wade never received notice of the hearing, citing court records that show several of the hearing notices were returned to the court as undeliverable.
Wade said he was not aware of the removal order until his arrest.
Following his arrest, he was sent to Atlanta’s ICE field office and later transferred to Stewart Detention Center. His family and friends have been visiting him, separated by plexiglass. CBS reported Thursday that Wade was moved to a detention center in Louisiana after being placed on a flight manifest to Jamaica this week.
CBS’s search showed that Wade is “in ICE custody” at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana. He has not had a hearing due to the 2014 removal order. His attorney has filed an appeal asking for his case to be reopened.
“You’re on pins and needles because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Watkins said. “Am I gonna hear that he’s in Jamaica? Do we need to figure out transportation, figure out clothes for him?” Christian Wade added.
