Illegal Immigrant Shielded From Deportation Charged With Killing College Football Player

The suspect accused of murdering a UMass Dartmouth football player was in the United States illegally and shielded from deportation by multiple administrations, according to Fox News.

Nigerian national Chukwunonso David Uzoma-Eze, 19, is accused of stabbing two football players near a Providence, Rhode Island, nightclub early Saturday morning, according to WPRI. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, where Marvins Antoine, 18, later died.

The stabbing took place in a Wendy’s parking lot across the street from Mezzo Lounge after an altercation that began in line outside the club, Providence police said.

Authorities arrested Uzoma-Eze, who is also a student at UMass Dartmouth, on campus, the WPRI reported.

BREAKING: Federal law enforcement sources confirm to @FoxNews that the suspect arrested for stabbing two UMass Dartmouth football players over the weekend, killing one, is a Nigerian national who had been in the U.S. illegally as a B-2 visa overstay, but was shielded from… pic.twitter.com/m7GJnBodtO

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 25, 2026

Although Uzoma-Eze entered the country legally in 2015, he overstayed his tourist visa, according to Fox News, citing federal law enforcement sources. In September 2022, the Biden administration approved Uzoma-Eze’s request for deferred action to delay his deportation from the United States.

The Nigerian national applied for a work permit in August 2023, but the request was rejected the next month, the outlet reported.

Uzoma-Eze applied a second time for deferred action in February 2025 and a third time in October 2025, Fox News reported. The Trump administration granted the latter request on Oct. 8, 2025.

In February 2025, Uzoma-Eze applied again for a work permit based on his deferred action, according to Fox News. The application remains pending.

Uzoma-Eze now faces a murder charge in connection with the stabbing. If he is convicted, Uzoma-Eze will lose his protections from deportation, according to Fox News.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also lodged a detainer with the Bristol County House of Correction and was expected to be transferred to Rhode Island on Friday to face murder charges. ,

Meanwhile, Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey walked away when a reporter asked her about Uzoma-Eze’s immigration status on Friday.

“Are your policies to blame at all for this UMass Dartmouth stabbing by an illegal immigrant? Should you try to work with ICE?” the reporter asked as the governor rushed away.