A U.S. Army veteran, Godfrey Wade, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the past three months in the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Wade, who emigrated from Jamaica at the age of 13 and has lived in the United States for over 52 years, found himself in custody following a routine traffic stop in September. During the stop for failing to signal a turn, police discovered that he did not possess a valid driver’s license and lacked proper documentation as a citizen.
Wade’s detainment has raised significant concerns, particularly as he is a veteran who served in the 7th Infantry Division during the mid-1970s. He was stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, where he received commendations for his service, including good conduct and wartime service medals. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a chef at the Georgia Capitol Café, and he and his fiancée, April Watkins, were in the process of applying for legal citizenship.
In a poignant statement, Wade expressed disbelief over his situation, stating, “For 52 years I’ve lived in this country and raised my children, worked hard, paid my taxes.” He highlighted the complexities of immigration processes, admitting, “I didn’t know about” various legal requirements.
Detention Conditions Raise Concerns
Conditions at the Stewart Detention Center have been criticized, with Wade reporting that he spent nearly two weeks sleeping on the floor due to overcrowding. He described the facility as having limited access to basic sanitation, stating, “We’re given what we call boats, and those are placed on the floor with a two-inch mat.” Furthermore, he noted that only two urinals are available for roughly 80 detainees, creating significant hygiene issues.
According to a report by 11Alive, the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO) identified multiple deficiencies during its last inspection of the facility, including health and safety violations and inadequate access to phone services. The report also pointed out that the detention center fails to meet the required detainee-to-toilet ratio, which should be 12-to-1.
Despite these alarming conditions, the contractor operating the facility, CoreCivic, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the situation.
Legal Protections and Family Impact
Historically, undocumented veterans had some legal protections against deportation. A directive issued in 2022 by the Biden administration instructed ICE agents to consider a veteran’s status during deportation proceedings, provided the individual does not have a violent criminal history. Recently, more than 60 Democratic Congress members sent a letter to federal authorities urging them to document all veterans who have been detained or deported in the past year. However, as of now, no such documentation has been released.
Wade’s family has been deeply affected by his detention. His daughter, Christian Wade, struggles to explain to her children, aged 4 and 6, why their grandfather is unavailable. “It’s been hard trying to communicate why granddad is not available,” she said. “He doesn’t want them to see him behind that plexiglass.”
Despite the challenges, Wade remains hopeful about his situation. He stated, “If I didn’t believe this country is still great, I wouldn’t want to stay here. I shed my blood for this country.” However, he has faced delays in his legal proceedings, noting that he had not been assigned a case agent for nearly two months and remains uncertain about his hearing date.
Wade’s fiancée, April, hopes that his case will bring attention to the plight of non-citizen veterans. “If you served this country, you deserve a chance to stay in this country,” she said, emphasizing the need for reform in the treatment of veterans facing deportation.
As Wade continues to await his day in court, his situation highlights ongoing issues surrounding immigration policy and the treatment of those who have served in the armed forces.
