12 Zimbabweans Deported from US in Surprise ICE Sw...

12 Zimbabweans Deported from US in Surprise ICE Sweep

Zim Now Writer

The Zimbabwean community in the United States has been left reeling after 12 nationals were unexpectedly deported to Harare in a surprise Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation earlier this week.

According to sources, the deportees were taken from different states — including Texas, California, Georgia, and New York — in a coordinated sweep targeting individuals with expired visas, rejected asylum claims, and other immigration violations.

The names of those deported have been confirmed as:

Tafadzwa Mupfumi – Dallas, TX
Rutendo Chigova – Atlanta, GA
Tinashe Dube – Los Angeles, CA
Nyasha Mutsvairo – Chicago, IL
Farai Chirenje – Houston, TX
Samantha Mhlanga – New York, NY
Kudakwashe Mupandawana – Miami, FL
Blessing Zvidzai – Philadelphia, PA
Ropafadzo Jiri – San Diego, CA
Leroy Mugari – Phoenix, AZ
Melody Chivasa – Boston, MA
Takudzwa Mhaka – Las Vegas, NV

Videos circulating on TikTok and Facebook show some of the Zimbabweans being escorted under tight security onto a chartered flight, while devastated family members wept from behind barricades.

ICE officials stated that most of the affected individuals had reached the end of their legal options to remain in the U.S., while others had been flagged after minor legal infractions.

The news has triggered widespread concern across the Zimbabwean diaspora, with many urging one another to ensure their immigration documents are up to date and to avoid unnecessary interactions with law enforcement.

In Harare, relatives gathered at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to receive their loved ones. Reactions were mixed — some were relieved to reunite with family members, while others expressed anger and deep anxiety about what the future holds.

One of the returnees, speaking anonymously, described the ordeal: “I left Zimbabwe because I had no opportunities. Now I’m back with nothing. This is the hardest day of my life.”