Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took a semi-pro Maine soccer player from Angola into custody last Wednesday as he was stopping at a Scarborough gas station.
Malunda Destino played for the Lewiston-based Maine Legends FC soccer team, which competes in the semi-professional United Premier Soccer League.
Destino’s team appears to have particular ties to his home country and has a page on their website dedicated to “Angola Ambassadors.” Based on the page, the role of those ambassadors appears to be identifying skilled soccer players in Angola and bringing those athletes to the U.S. to play for the team.
It is not clear whether Destino was brought into the U.S., where he was allegedly staying illegally, by one of these recruiters.
The team, led by Coach Manuel Vemba, is desperate to have Destino back and has opened a fundraiser on GoFundMe, asking for $4,500 to help support his pregnant wife. The fundraiser has amassed nearly $5,000 as of Friday morning, exceeding the goal by nearly $1,000.
The largest donation, $1,000, came from the Dirigo Union, a soccer club with an apparent focus on diversity.
“We believe in the transformative power of the beautiful game to bring people together, regardless of background, race, creed, sexual preference, or gender identity. Our mission is to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment where all who share our love for soccer are embraced as part of our family,” says their website.
Vemba claimed on his GoFundMe page that another group, Project Relief, which appears to focus on aiding illegal immigrants, would be hosting a fundraiser for Destino’s legal fees; however, The Maine Wire was unable to locate any such fundraising page.
Coach Vemba reportedly told the Bangor Daily News that, as a result of Destino’s arrest, “Most of the players don’t even want to come to practice because they fear they might get targeted.”
This naturally raises questions about why the other team members, many of whom are seemingly recruited from Angola, would fear an arrest by ICE unless they are in violation of immigration law.
Vemba said that he does not know why ICE arrested Destino, but his wife believes it could be because of unpaid tickets. This explanation appears unlikely, as failing to pay traffic tickets is not an immigration offense.
The Maine Wire reached out to ICE asking why Destino was detained, but they did not respond.
Destino is currently being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which partners with ICE to hold illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.
