Ugandan Asylum Seeker Detained in Vermont Sparks Outrage and Advocacy

Fri Feb 06 2026 01:31:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan minister seeking asylum in the U.S., was detained by federal immigration agents in Vermont, raising significant concerns among advocates and lawmakers about his potential deportation back to Uganda, where he faced severe persecution.

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker and nursing assistant in Vermont, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Tendo fled Uganda in 2018 to escape brutal torture linked to his political activism. Local supporters and lawmakers have expressed outrage over his detention, highlighting the ongoing fight against deportation and the safety of asylum seekers in America.

Steven Tendo, a Ugandan minister and nursing assistant who sought asylum in Vermont in 2021, was detained on Wednesday morning by federal immigration agents. Tendo was apprehended outside a healthcare facility where he works, prompting immediate concern from his union and advocacy groups like Migrant Justice.

After his arrest in Shelburne, Tendo was taken to an ICE facility in Manchester, New Hampshire. By Wednesday evening, he was in custody at the Strafford County Jail in Dover, New Hampshire. Advocates fear that his detention could lead to deportation, which would return him to a country where he faced severe persecution.

His attorneys are currently pursuing legal challenges in New Hampshire to secure his release. Tendo's most recent scheduled check-in with ICE was this past Friday, which raises questions about the timing of his detention.

The union representing him, UVMMC Support Staff United, indicated that it was unaware of any criminal activity that may have warranted such detention. Tendo, who has a history of torture in Uganda connected to his political activism, described a potential return to his homeland as a 'death sentence.'

His plight has garnered support from various international human rights organizations and Vermont lawmakers, who have called for immediate action. On Wednesday, Vermont's congressional delegation expressed their distress over Tendo's situation, insisting that he deserves protection under the U.S. asylum system.

Since fleeing to the U.S. in 2018, Tendo has fought to stay in the country. His initial asylum application was denied in 2019 due to alleged inconsistencies, but he remained in the U.S. under the ICE's conditions, which allowed him to live and work freely while reporting regularly to them.

Supporters rallied outside the ICE office in St. Albans on Wednesday, chanting, “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!” as public outcry continues to grow regarding his detention and the treatment of asylum seekers in the U.S.

This incident highlights the ongoing struggles many asylum seekers face and the crucial conversations surrounding immigration policies in America.