Porsha Williams’ Estranged Nigerian Husband, Simon Guobadia, Detained by ICE for Deportation
Simon Guobadia, the estranged husband of American television personality Porsha Williams, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. The Nigerian-born businessman, who gained national attention through his marriage to Williams, is currently being held at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. His detention comes amid the ongoing mass deportation efforts of the Trump administration, following his return to the Oval Office for a second term.
Simon Guobadia’s immigration history is as complex as it is controversial. Born in Nigeria, Guobadia first migrated to the United States in 1982. Upon arriving, he sought to establish a life in the country but quickly ran into issues with his immigration status. According to records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, he overstayed his visa, leading to his deportation in 1992 after multiple arrests and legal complications.
Guobadia’s first run-in with the law occurred in 1987 when he was arrested for bank and credit card fraud. The arrest, which was tied to a series of fraudulent financial activities, set the stage for a series of legal battles. Guobadia was arrested again in 1989 for an undisclosed violation and later deported back to Nigeria in 1992.
However, Guobadia’s deportation was not permanent. Within a month of being sent back to Nigeria, he reportedly managed to return to the United States. Details surrounding his re-entry remain unclear, but it is known that he was able to circumvent immigration laws and regain entry into the U.S., where he would continue to build a life, eventually becoming a businessman with high-profile connections.
Despite his previous immigration violations, Simon Guobadia applied for U.S. citizenship in 2016. This move was not without complications, given his past issues with U.S. immigration authorities. In 2016, Guobadia sought to formalize his status in the country by applying for citizenship. However, his application was denied due to his previous status being considered “unlawfully granted.” In essence, the U.S. government ruled that Guobadia’s prior legal standing in the country did not meet the necessary requirements for citizenship.
For Guobadia, this was a major setback. He filed multiple complaints and appeals in an attempt to have his status changed, arguing that he had established a life in the U.S. and should be granted naturalized citizenship. However, these appeals have not been successful, and his attempts to resolve his status have remained unsuccessful.
Guobadia’s efforts to become a naturalized citizen and his ongoing legal battle with U.S. authorities have drawn significant public attention, especially due to his marriage to Porsha Williams, which thrust him into the public eye. Williams, a well-known reality TV star who appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, married Guobadia in November 2022. Their marriage, however, was short-lived, with Williams filing for divorce just over a year later, in early 2024. Since then, the couple has been involved in a bitter legal dispute, further complicating Guobadia’s legal and immigration status.
Guobadia’s detention is also part of a broader trend under the Trump administration’s second term, which has seen a resurgence of mass deportation efforts. President Donald Trump, after regaining office, signed several executive orders that aimed to expedite the deportation of undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal histories or legal violations. The renewed emphasis on immigration enforcement has led to an increase in ICE detentions, particularly of individuals who have overstayed their visas or committed crimes while living in the United States.
Guobadia’s case is emblematic of the broader deportation policies that have been prioritized under the Trump administration. Despite his past criminal convictions, which include fraud charges, Guobadia’s supporters have argued that his long-term presence in the U.S. and his ties to American citizens, including his marriage to Porsha Williams, should be taken into consideration. However, with the Trump administration’s current stance on deportation, such arguments have not been enough to secure his release or prevent his impending deportation.
The detention of Simon Guobadia is a significant development in the ongoing legal and personal battle between him and his estranged wife, Porsha Williams. The two married in November 2022, but their relationship has been tumultuous, leading to a divorce filing just 15 months later. Since their separation, the two have been embroiled in an increasingly contentious legal battle.
In September 2024, Williams scored a significant legal victory when a judge ruled in her favor regarding the couple’s prenuptial agreement. This victory allowed Williams to secure some financial independence as part of their divorce proceedings. In November 2024, further court documents revealed that Williams had been granted temporary sole possession of their marital residence. The ruling also granted her the “unrestricted right to film and produce television, film or social media” in the home, further solidifying her control over their shared property.
Despite the ongoing divorce proceedings, Guobadia’s detention by ICE complicates the legal battle, particularly as it relates to the couple’s financial disputes. Williams, who has long been a popular figure on reality TV, will likely face additional challenges as she navigates both her divorce and the fallout from her estranged husband’s legal troubles.
Guobadia’s impending deportation is not just a personal matter for the businessman and his estranged wife; it is a broader reflection of the U.S. immigration system’s harsh stance on individuals with questionable immigration histories. Guobadia’s situation illustrates the difficulties that many individuals face when attempting to navigate the U.S. immigration process, especially those who have been previously deported or who have committed crimes while residing in the country.
His case is also a reminder of the risks involved for individuals who overstay their visas or engage in illegal activities while living in the U.S. Despite his years of residence in the country, his immigration violations, coupled with his criminal history, have led to his detention and eventual deportation. This situation reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, which has resulted in the detention of thousands of individuals across the country in recent months.
For many immigrants in similar situations, Guobadia’s case serves as a cautionary tale. His detention underscores the risks of overstaying visas, engaging in illegal activities, and seeking citizenship without addressing past violations. It also highlights the complexities of U.S. immigration law and the challenges faced by individuals attempting to navigate the system.
The public’s reaction to Guobadia’s detention has been mixed. On one hand, some have expressed sympathy for his situation, noting that his years of living in the U.S. and his personal connections, including his marriage to a high-profile American celebrity, should be taken into account. There are those who argue that deporting Guobadia after his extended stay in the U.S. would be an unjust punishment for past mistakes. These supporters contend that he should be given a second chance to resolve his immigration status and remain in the U.S.
On the other hand, critics of Guobadia’s situation have pointed to his criminal history and repeated immigration violations as justification for his detention and deportation. Many argue that individuals who break U.S. immigration laws, particularly those who have been previously deported, should face the consequences of their actions, regardless of their connections to prominent figures or their length of stay in the country.
For Porsha Williams, the public reaction to her estranged husband’s legal troubles may impact her image and career, particularly as she remains a high-profile figure in the entertainment world. As her divorce proceedings continue, she may face additional scrutiny from the public and media regarding her relationship with Guobadia and his ongoing legal issues.
Simon Guobadia’s detention by ICE represents a complex and ongoing legal and personal battle that intertwines his immigration status, criminal history, and contentious divorce from Porsha Williams. While his case is part of the broader trend of mass deportations under the Trump administration, it also highlights the challenges faced by individuals who have overstayed their visas, committed crimes, and struggled to navigate the U.S. immigration system.
For Williams, the legal victory regarding her prenuptial agreement and temporary sole possession of their marital home marks a significant development in her divorce case, but Guobadia’s detention will likely continue to complicate matters. As the couple’s legal dispute unfolds, it remains to be seen how Guobadia’s deportation will impact their personal and financial separation.
The broader implications of Guobadia’s situation also reflect the evolving state of U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration. As the administration continues to prioritize mass deportations, cases like Guobadia’s serve as a reminder of the harsh consequences faced by individuals who violate U.S. immigration laws, regardless of their length of stay or connections to prominent individuals.
