A dispute is unfolding between the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and federal immigration officials after the detention of a Kenyan priest in Houston.
The Episcopal Diocese of Texas announced that Rev. James Eliud Ngahu Mwangi was detained on October 25 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while returning home from work. According to Episcopal Bishop of Texas C. Andrew Doyle, Mwangi is a “legally employed Kenyan clergy member who works for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.”
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not respond to Texas Scorecard‘s request for comment on Mwangi’s employment.
Rev. Blake Rider, rector of the church where Mwangi serves, added that the priest had recently helped him plant a new congregation that worships in Swahili. Rider emphasized that Mwangi is legally allowed to work and expressed concern that his detention leaves the prison understaffed.
However, ICE disputed those claims in a statement released yesterday. According to the agency, Mwangi entered the United States on a B-1 visa that expired nearly a year and a half ago. “His visa required him to depart the country by May 16, 2024,” ICE said. “All of his claims will be heard by a judge.”
In reference to Mwangi’s detention, ICE added, “President Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S.”
Following ICE’s statement, a spokesman for the Diocese of Texas responded that Mwangi holds a valid work permit through 2029 and has been employed by the state since February.
The dispute comes just days after ICE completed a 10-day operation in Houston that resulted in more than 1,500 arrests. Bret Bradford, field office director for ICE’s Removal Operations, said the sweep was carried out “despite the conditions becoming increasingly dangerous for our officers as a result of the spread of violent political rhetoric and intentionally false information.”
Bradford noted that those arrested included aggravated felons, a convicted murderer, gang members, sexual predators, and others. He said the operation “prevented countless Houstonians from having to suffer from the nightmares and PTSD that come with being a victim of violent crime.”
