Hollywood star speaks after estranged Nigerian husband is detained by ICE for deportation
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Porsha Williams, has spoken after her estranged Nigerian husband, Simon Guobadia, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
News had earlier broken that the Nigerian-born businessman, 60, was picked up and was being kept at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.
When the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s records were checked, Guobadia’s status was listed as ‘in ICE custody’.
Porsha Williams, 43, who was once married to Guobadia but is currently working on a divorce from him took to her Instagram to describe the situation as ‘disheartening.’
She wrote: ‘It’s disheartening to see my estranged husband make choices that have led to this outcome. At this moment, my priority is moving forward with my family’.
Guobadia, 60, reportedly migrated from Nigeria to the United States in 1982 and allegedly overstayed his visa.
Atlanta’s WSB-TV 2 reported that he was declared deportable in 1985, and was arrested in 1987 for bank and credit card fraud.
He was arrested two more times leading to his deportation to Nigeria in 1992.
Guobadia, however, found a way to return to America a month later.
In 2016, Guobadia applied for citizenship but was denied by the U.S. government because his previous status was “unlawfully granted.”
He has filed several complaints and appeals in an attempt to be declared a naturalized citizen but has failed in all the attempts.
His predicament is believed to have been worsened by the increased drive for deportations under the new administration of President Donald Trump.
Trump’s order allows for the deportation of undocumented immigrants to their countries of origin.
Guobadia celebrated 42 years of living in America in February 2024, He wrote on Instagram, ‘Happy Tuesday to all who ever overcame and persevered in life. You are winning #42yearsLivinginAmerica.’
That same month, Williams filed for divorce from him after nearly 15 months of marriage.
Williams and Guobadia had married in November 2022.
The two have since been in court over how to share their properties post-marriage.
Williams secured a legal victory in September when a judge ruled in her favour regarding the former couple’s prenuptial agreement.
It emerged in November that a court had granted Williams temporary sole possession of their marital residence and given her the “unrestricted right to film and produce television, film or social media” in the home.
