Pastor Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker living in Vermont, US, is living in fear of being deported back to Uganda, where he believes he would face certain death.
Tendo, who has been in the US since 2018, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside his workplace in Shelburne, Vermont, and is currently being held at the Strafford County Corrections in Dover, New Hampshire.
Tendo’s fears are rooted in his past experiences in Uganda, where he claims he was brutally tortured, including allegedly being placed in a pit with a live python and allegations of being subjected to gen!t@l mut!l@tion, for his human rights activism. He also reportedly lost two fingers on his left hand, allegedly cut off by security officers using wire cutters.
According to his lawyer, Chris Worth, Tendo’s asylum claim was initially denied in 2019, and despite multiple appeals, he faces imminent deportation.
Tendo’s case has garnered support from Vermont’s congressional delegation, including Senator Bernie Sanders, who expressed concern over his detention and urged authorities to ensure his safety.
Tendo has also provided sworn affidavits in US courts detailing his torture and persecution in Uganda. In these affidavits, Tendo recounts reportedly being forced into a pit with a live python, subjected to gen!t@l mut!l@tion, and having two fingers allegedly cut off by security officers. These accounts, allegations which the Ugandan security agencies are yet to comment on, have been crucial in highlighting the severe risks he says he faces if deported, and his lawyer, Chris Worth, is using them to bolster Tendo’s case for asylum.
In the US, Tendo has worked as a licensed nursing assistant at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he has been praised for his compassion and dedication to patients. His colleagues and supervisors have spoken highly of him, describing him as a valued member of the team who has made a positive impact on the lives of many patients.
Tendo’s looming deportation is part of a larger trend of aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. In fact, Amnesty International has condemned the Trump administration’s actions, stating that ICE’s decision to deport Tendo would be “particularly cruel” given his alleged history of persecution and torture in Uganda.
Tendo’s case is one of many where asylum seekers are being targeted, despite having valid claims for protection. His detention and potential deportation have sparked widespread outrage, with Vermont’s congressional delegation, including Senator Bernie Sanders, calling for his release and urging authorities to allow him due process.
The Trump administration’s deportation policies are quite aggressive, and there are several reasons behind them. One major reason is the administration’s focus on enforcing immigration laws and securing the border. They are aiming to deter asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants from entering the US, citing national security and public safety concerns. This approach has led to increased detention and deportation of individuals, including those with what people like Worth and Sanders considers valid asylum claims, like Pastor Steven Tendo’s case.
Policies contributing to these deportations include the Migrant “Protection” Protocols (MPP), also known as “Remain in Mexico,” which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico during their US court proceedings. The administration has also implemented stricter asylum rules, making it harder for people to qualify for protection in the US.
Additionally, the Trump administration has increased funding for immigration enforcement, allowing for more aggressive tactics and expanded detention capacity. Critics argue that these policies prioritize enforcement over humanitarian concerns and due process, leading to human rights abuses and family separations.
Tendo’s supports argue that his case is also a reflection of the dire human rights situation in Uganda, where President Yoweri Museveni’s government has been accused of cracking down on opposition politicians, activists, and civil society organizations. Since Museveni came to power in 1986, Uganda has seen a decline in democratic freedoms, with widespread allegations of torture, and arbitrary arrests. Tendo’s alleged persecution is a prime example of the government’s brutal treatment of dissenting voices, and his fear of return is rooted in the very real risk of facing similar or worse treatment.
You can read more about Pastor Steven Tendo’s arrest and how he was denied diabetes drugs in US detention Here and There.
You can also read about new US visa rules for Ugandans Here.
