Georgia Army Veteran Faces Deportation After 50 Years in U.S.: “Thank you for your service…should mean something”
COVINGTON, Ga. — A Georgia man who has called the United States home for half a century and served honorably in the U.S. Army is now facing imminent deportation, sparking outrage among his family and supporters who argue his military service is being disregarded.
Godfrey Wade, a Jamaican-born veteran who moved to the U.S. as a teenager in 1975, has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for nearly five months. Despite holding a green card and serving in the Army from 1983 to 1987, including a station in Germany, Wade is on the brink of being removed from the country he swore to defend.
The ordeal began on September 13, 2025, following a routine traffic stop in Conyers, Georgia. Police pulled Wade over for failing to use a turn signal and subsequently arrested him for driving without a license. However, the situation escalated rapidly when authorities discovered a 2014 removal order against him, leading to his transfer to ICE custody.
The 2014 order stems from minor legal infractions committed nearly two decades ago, including a 2007 bounced check and a 2006 simple assault charge involving a domestic dispute. Wade’s attorney emphasizes that the assault charge involved no physical violence—describing an argument where a glass of milk was spilled—and that Wade had paid restitution for the check. Crucially, Wade maintains he never received notice of the 2014 immigration hearing that sealed his fate, as notices were sent to an incorrect address.
For his family, the situation is a heartbreaking betrayal. Wade’s fiancée, April Watkins, and his daughter, Christian Wade, have been fighting tirelessly for his release, emphasizing that his past mistakes should not outweigh his contributions to the nation.
“You’re not from this country, but you serve. You’re willing to die for this country. That should matter,” Watkins told CBS Atlanta.
His daughter, Christian, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the disconnect between the public’s appreciation for veterans and the government’s treatment of her father. “When we say thank you for your service, it should mean something,” she said.
Wade’s legal team filed an emergency stay of removal, which was initially denied, though an appeal remains pending. The situation turned dire this week when Wade was transferred from the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia to a facility in Louisiana—a move his lawyer indicated is often a final step before deportation. Family members fear he has already been placed on a flight manifest to Jamaica.
“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,” Watkins said.
Wade has been described by his family as a “strong man of faith” and a devoted father and grandfather. During his incarceration, he has spent time drawing portraits of other inmates, using art to cope with the uncertainty.
As the clock ticks down, his supporters are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to intervene, arguing that a veteran who pledged his life to the United States deserves, at the very least, a fair day in court.
* ctvnews.ca
* reddit.com
* thegrio.com
* cbsnews.com
* face2faceafrica.com
* atlantablackstar.com
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* 11alive.com
