A US military veteran and grandfather who has lived in America for five decades is now languishing in a Georgia detention centre, facing deportation after a routine traffic stop, his fiancée has told The Independent.
A Life of Service Now in Limbo
Godfrey Wade, a 65-year-old father of six and grandfather of three, was pulled over by police in Conyers, Georgia, in September for failing to use a turn signal. The stop led to his arrest for driving without a licence and subsequent custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He has now been held for nearly 90 days at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.
Wade, who was born in Jamaica, moved to New York with his mother as a 15-year-old permanent resident. He later enlisted in the United States Army, receiving commendations for good conduct and wartime service before his honourable discharge. He earned multiple college degrees and worked as a master tailor, fashion designer, tennis coach, and chef.
"I'm very upset. I feel that he came to this country as a teenager, chose to sign up for the army and serve," said his 49-year-old fiancée, April Watkins. "At this point, under this administration, it's like that doesn't matter. I think it's a travesty. I think the country is turning its back on people that served."
Contested History and Harsh Detention Conditions
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has labelled Wade a "repeat offender" who should be removed, citing a criminal history that includes domestic assault, criminal trespass, reckless conduct, deposit account fraud, and multiple arrests for driving on a suspended licence between 1993 and 2022. DHS stated an immigration judge ordered him removed in 2014 after he missed a hearing.
However, Watkins contests this characterisation, explaining the hearing notice was sent to the wrong address. She pleads for nuance, stating, "We have to stop judging people so harshly for things that they may have done in the past. He’s a good person."
His detention conditions are reportedly harsh. Watkins says he spent his first 12 days sleeping on the floor due to overcrowding at the facility, which houses over 2,000 detainees. She describes broken toilets and showers, with three urinals for about 80 people in his unit.
Visits are a gruelling six-hour round trip for Watkins, with only one hour of contact per week through plexiglass. She estimates she has spent $800 on phone calls to him since September. The couple got engaged in 2022 but have been separated for over three months, with their lives consumed by his immigration case and a GoFundMe page to cover legal fees.
Policy Shift Leaves Veterans Vulnerable
Wade's case highlights a significant shift in US immigration policy regarding veterans. A 2022 ICE directive stated that military service should be "considered" in enforcement actions, with honourable discharge a "significant mitigating factor." However, the Trump administration rescinded this Biden-era policy in April 2025.
A subsequent memo stated that "U.S. military service alone does not automatically exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws." While ICE will generally not act against active-duty service members, honourable discharge "does not necessarily prevent" enforcement action.
This change occurs amidst a broader deportation drive. The Trump administration has stated a goal of the "largest deportation operation in American history," with DHS reporting over 2 million deportations this year.
The policy shift has drawn political fire. In a September letter, Senator Elizabeth Warren and dozens of Democratic colleagues demanded a list of non-citizen service members and veterans detained by ICE since January, writing, "We demand an explanation for why DHS is betraying its promises to service members." A spokesperson for Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson confirmed that officials had not responded by the 16 September deadline.
Wade's attorney has filed a motion to temporarily halt his deportation, but the family faces an uncertain wait for a judge's review. "It is very, very challenging every day to come home and not have him here," Watkins said, clinging to hope for his release and their future wedding plans.
