ICE Detainee Returns Home in Yankton
Nate Samudzi is a UPS driver in Yankton, but his hometown is Vermillion. On Feb. 12, Samudzi was detained by ICE as he was deboarding a plane with his wife, Sydney Samudzi, in St. Louis. This trip was their first trip away as new parents, as they just had their first child six months ago.
Nate Samudzi has been in the United States since he was four years old. He started his path to gain citizenship four years ago. Throughout this process, he has been in contact with an attorney to do everyone the “correct way.”
Nate Samudzi has been living in Yankton for the last five years. He has had his job at UPS for a number of those years, pays taxes and participates in his community and church.
A GoFundMe was started by Morgan Palmer, Sydney Samudzi’s cousin. The purpose of the GoFundMe was to share their story, as well as cover the travel and legal expenses. At time of print, it has raised $54,320 of their $60K goal.
Sydney Samudzi was able to visit her husband on Feb. 15, just three days after Nate was detained, but only for 30 minutes. After she left, she received a message from Nate that said, “The sun came out after you left and that’s a good sign.”
On Feb. 18, six days after Nate Samudzi was detained, Sydney Samudzi got the call that he was being released. In an update on the GoFundMe, Sydney said, “I cannot even fathom the amount of love and support we have received, not only from Yankton but also from Nate’s hometown of Vermillion, over the past week. This really is a community that has taken us in and treated us with kindness and love, and for that, we are forever grateful.”
Sydney shared that there is still a long way to go on Nate’s path to citizenship, but they will continue to do what they need to do the right way. She also thanked the elected officials who helped to get Nate out and bring him home.
At the end of her update, Sydney Samudzi said, “Remember, when there is a chance to spread hate, please choose love instead. This has shown how much a community can come together and unite to be stronger than ever. Again, we still have a long process ahead of us, but we do hope this shines a light on how the immigration process is not always as simple as you think.”
