Served on Four Continents, Detained for a Turn Signal
A veteran’s story of service, a policy shift, and the reality of deportation in 2026.
(Remastered)
Is this how we treat people who served?
It is a question that demands an answer as we watch the unfolding case of Godfrey Wade. A man who wore the U.S. Army uniform for eight years—serving in the 7th Infantry Division—is now sitting in a Louisiana ICE facility, facing deportation to a country he left half a century ago.
He arrived with a green card. He leaves, potentially, in handcuffs.
📅 Timeline of Events
1975: Wade arrives in the U.S. from Jamaica at age 15 on a green card.
Late 1970s – Mid-1980s: He enlists and serves eight years in the U.S. Army. During this time, he deploys overseas and earns the Wartime Veteran Medal, Overseas Service Medal, and U.S. Army Commendation Medal. He is honorably discharged.
1980s – 2014: He builds a life in Georgia as a lawful permanent resident, raising six U.S. citizen children and eventually becoming a grandfather to three.
The Legal Context: Over the years, he accumulates a criminal record including domestic assault, criminal trespass, reckless conduct, deposit account fraud, and driving on suspended licenses.
The Turning Point: In 2014, an immigration judge orders his removal in absentia after he fai appear at a hearing. His family and attorney state the notice was sent to an undeliverable address and never reached him.
September 18, 2025: Pulled over in Conyers, GA, for failing to use a turn signal. Police discover he is driving without a valid license. Instead of a citation and release, he is handed over to ICE.
Late 2025: Detained first at Stewart Detention Center (where reports describe overcrowding and people sleeping on floor mats), he goes over 55 days without seeing a case agent.
January 2026: Transferred to a Louisiana ICE facility—often described as the “final stop” before removal.
The Legal Battle: A “Lost” Notice vs. A Criminal Record
The central tension of this case is clear.
The DHS Position:
Department of Homeland Security officia to Wade’s criminal history (probation violations, domestic assault, fraud) and the standing 2014 removal order as justification for his priority status.
The Defense:
Wade’s attorney, Tony Kozycki, has filed motions to reopen the case on both merit and due process grounds. The defense argues that the 2014 removal order is invalid because the hearing notice was undeliverable. They contend that his honorable military service and 50 years of ties to the U.S. should weigh heavier than his record.
As of now, the appeal is pending, but there is no automatic stay of removal. The clock keeps running.
The Policy Shift That Changed Everything
This case did not happen in a vacuum.
In 2022, under the Biden administration, ICE issued guidance that treated military service as a significant mitigating factor. In April 2025, that directive was rescinded.
The new guidance states that while military service is “considered,” it does not automatically prevent enforcement actions. The result: veterans with honorable discharges are no longer shielded. Reports show a stark increase in detentions of non-citizen veterans since early 2025.
The Reality: You can serve in the 7th Infantry, raise American children, and live here for half a century—then face deportation over a traffic stop because a policy that once recognized your service was rolled back.
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