Questions grow after ICE arrests Savannah State baseball player
By Tia Maggio
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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WJCL) — The arrest of a Savannah State University baseball player by immigration agents in New York is drawing scrutiny from family members and immigrant advocates, with questions now centering on whether his detention stemmed from a visa compliance issue or a possible administrative error.
ICE says student remains in custody An ICE spokesperson said agents arrested Johan Efrain Sandoval Rodriguez, 22, on July 3 in Clifton Park, New York, during what the agency described as a targeted enforcement operation. The Department of Homeland Security says he remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
According to ICE, Sandoval Rodriguez entered the United States on a nonimmigrant student visa in 2022. The agency said his visa status was terminated in April 2025 after he failed to comply with its requirements.
ICE also said Sandoval Rodriguez tried to run as officers moved in to arrest him, but agents completed the arrest “without further incident.”
Family and university supporters rally behind him Social media posts shared by Sandoval’s girlfriend said he was detained Friday morning and later taken to an immigration detention center.
Sandoval, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, attends Savannah State on a full athletic scholarship. He earned All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in 2025 and 2026 and was named Most Valuable Player at the HBCU Baseball All-Star Game in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
In a statement provided by Savannah State alumni group OneSSU, university President Dr. Jermaine Whirl said he has been involved since learning of the case.
“I’m aware and have been working with his family and immigration attorney from the beginning,” Whirl said.
Advocates question whether detention was necessary Eddie Delgado, civic coordinator with Savannah immigrant advocacy organization Migrant Equity Southeast, said the case may involve an administrative issue rather than criminal conduct.
“There has been a trend — we’re trying to find any small infraction or any kind of inconsistency that they can find to point to, immediately framing these folks as criminals,” Delgado said.
Delgado also said an F-1 visa allows international students to study full-time in the United States, but they must stay enrolled, keep their paperwork current and continue meeting federal requirements.
“To my understanding, the only way they would get terminated is if they were out of school, if they were no longer studying,” he said.
He also criticized the detention itself.
“This is an unnecessary detention,” Delgado said. “ICE detention is supposed to be nonpunitive. The treatment that this student is going to face is going to be very tough.”
Family says detention has been devastating Sandoval’s girlfriend said in a social media post that he was heading to the gym Friday morning when immigration agents confronted him.
In a statement, the girlfriend’s mother said agents demanded his identification and found paperwork showing a visa-related certificate had expired. She said he was later taken to a detention center hours away.
The family has hired an attorney.
A GoFundMe campaign created by his sister, Stacey Sandoval, says the family is working with Savannah State University, immigration professionals and legal counsel to pursue every available legal option so he can continue his education.
“This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional experience for our family,” she wrote. “Johan has no criminal history and has spent his time in the United States pursuing his education, serving his community, and striving toward a brighter future.”
Fundraiser seeks help with legal costs The GoFundMe campaign says donations will be used for a possible immigration bond, attorney fees, court costs, USCIS application fees, legal proceedings and basic necessities while his case is pending.
The fundraiser says Sandoval came to the United States to pursue a college degree while playing baseball and has continued working toward his academic and athletic goals.
Broader questions about student visa enforcement The case has raised broader questions about how student visa compliance is monitored and enforced in the United States.
ICE also used the arrest to warn against resisting law enforcement.
“Resisting officers and evading arrest is dangerous for our officers, illegal aliens, and the public,” the spokesperson said. “We remind the public that resisting officers and evading arrests is a felony and a federal crime.”
The agency also criticized so-called sanctuary policies, saying political leaders should not encourage conduct that could put officers or the public at risk.
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