Former Syracuse Basketball Player Set for Deportation

John Bol Ajak, a former player for Syracuse basketball, is set to be deported to Sudan after spending over a month in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is all reported by Syracuse.com.

The 26-year-old, originally from Natinga, South Sudan, apparently agreed to the voluntary removal order during a virtual hearing on Thursday, which was overseen by Immigration Judge Adam G. Panopoulos in New Jersey.

During the proceedings, the judge indicated that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had established that Ajak had overstayed his visa, which was supposed to expire in 2023 after he completed his studies at Syracuse University.

Interestingly, he had remained in Syracuse despite being given a 60-day notice to leave the country.

Voluntary departure is a process that enables non-citizens to exit the U.S. at their own cost within a specified timeframe to avoid a formal deportation order, as outlined by the Department of Justice. This route may also permit individuals to reapply for a visa to return to the U.S. from their homeland.

However, the exact timeline for Ajak’s deportation remains uncertain.

Records show Ajak has had multiple arrests since December, facing charges like resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.

Currently held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, Ajak expressed during the hearing his desire to leave the U.S. as quickly as possible. He emphasized, “If I leave like this, I don’t want to set foot in this country again,” though he was represented during the hearing without a legal counsel.

Ajak mentioned wanting to go back to Pauoi Payam in South Sudan’s Tuik East district, where most of his family, including his parents, reside. He indicated that he feels safe returning there.

This situation unfolded after he was taken into ICE custody on February 18, shortly after being released on pretrial conditions.

Standing at 6-foot-10, Ajak played three seasons at Syracuse between 2020 and 2023 under coach Jim Boeheim. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Newhouse School at Syracuse in December 2023, though he mentioned he had started a graduate program but couldn’t finish it.

His journey to the U.S. began in 2014, as he arrived from Kenya in pursuit of educational and basketball opportunities in Pennsylvania.