A man serving as an assistant priest for a newly formed congregation in the Diocese of Texas was detained by ICE on October 24.
The Rev. James Eliud Ngahu Mwangi, originally from Kenya, was on his way home from work when he was arrested by the federal agency in charge of immigration enforcement. Mwangi works full time as a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that the Episcopal priest had overstayed his B1 visa—given to tourists—by more than a year. “His visa required him to depart the country by May 16, 2024,” the spokesperson said. ICE said that all Mwangi’s claims will be heard by a judge.
According to the Rev. William Blake Rider, rector of St. Stephen’s Church in Huntsville, Texas—where Mwangi serves—the Kenyan priest has a work permit and is residing in the country legally. A statement from the Diocese of Texas described him as legally employed by the Texas public safety agency.
“We have no reason to believe that the detained priest has committed any wrongdoing,” Tammy Lanier, director of communications for the Diocese of Texas, told TLC. “He did not ignore the laws or his responsibility, as his case remained in process.”
Lannier added, “The clock stops ticking for asylum-seekers, giving them an opportunity to remain legally as they file all necessary documents in a timely manner.”
Mwangi is assistant priest of the recently formed Kiswahili worshiping community at St. Stephen’s, led by its vicar, the Rev. Dr. James Gatungu. According to Rider, Gatungu will visit Mwangi on November 6 to check on his condition and well-being. He has reportedly been transferred to an immigration detention center in Conroe, Texas, a 30-minute drive from Huntsville.
Kiswahili, another term for Swahili, is a widely spoken language in East and Central Africa.
“From what we know in the news, the conditions in those detention centers are not very safe or healthy,” Rider told TLC. “We’re worried about him.”
The rector also said Mwangi’s attorney has spoken to him, but expressed concern about his family in Kenya. “I’m worried about their state of mind … the state of their worry and anxiety,” he said. “I pray for them to have peace and for James to be safe while he’s incarcerated.”
Mwangi’s fellow priest urges the church to be vigilant and watchful “for our friends who are immigrants, for all immigrants.” He added that Episcopalians must “be prepared to stand with them and stand for them if they are detained, and do everything we can to ensure their safety.”
Bishop C. Andrew Doyle of Texas, in an earlier statement to the media, said the diocese is praying for Mwangi’s safety and his family’s peace of mind, “and for fair and humane treatment as this case moves forward.”
“The Episcopal Diocese of Texas stands firmly for justice, dignity, and compassion for every person,” Doyle said.
Mwangi is among several Episcopalians who have been detained by ICE as the Trump administration steps up its mass-deportation agenda. In August, a priest’s daughter was detained after a visa renewal interview in New York City. ICE said her visa was expired despite her being in the country legally with a valid, unexpired visa.
After outcry from the Diocese of New York and the city’s faith community, Yeonsoo Go—daughter of the Rev. Kyrie Kim of the Diocese of New York—was released from ICE custody on August 4.
The Diocese of New York has been raising funds for the legal defense of one parishioner who has been in ICE custody for over 13 weeks.
Caleb Maglaya Galaraga is The Living Church’s Episcopal Church reporter. His work has also appeared in Christianity Today, Broadview Magazine, and Presbyterian Outlook, among other publications.
