Overview

• Dama, 46, was released late Thursday from ICE’s Burlington processing center after nearly 100 days in detention, according to GBH footage and an interview.
• Immigration Judge Yul-Mi Cho granted him asylum this week based on a well‑founded fear of persecution tied to his kidnapping as a journalist in Nigeria.
• He was arrested by ICE in June while walking to church in Brockton and had been held at the Strafford County jail in New Hampshire before his release processing.
• DHS officials cited an expired 2019 visa and two 2024 OUI convictions in calling him a public safety threat, while local reporting notes his renewed work authorization valid through 2029.
• His sister says the family has reunited and expects him to return to work at Suya Joint once documents are returned, as questions remain about the status of his removal case.