GoFundMe Page Set Up To Help South Dakota Man Detained By ICE

Nate Samudzi has been in custody since February 12th after being detained by ICE while deboarding a plane in St. Louis.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A Yankton, South Dakota family is waiting for a father and husband to hopefully return home. New parents Nate and Sydney Samudzi went on a trip to celebrate the birth of their first child when Nate was detained by ICE while deboarding a plane in St. Louis. Nate has been in custody since Thursday, February 12th, and his wife Sydney has been sharing their story and updates through Facebook posts.

Why it matters

Nate has been in the United States since he was 4 years old and knows no other life, language or community. The family has been working with an attorney to establish Nate's path to citizenship, and his detention has been a traumatic and horrible situation for the young family.

The details

Nate and Sydney Samudzi were on a trip to celebrate the birth of their first child when Nate was detained by ICE while deboarding a plane in St. Louis on February 12th. Nate has been in custody since then, and his wife Sydney has been sharing their story and updates through Facebook posts. The family has been working with an attorney for almost 4 years to establish Nate's path to citizenship, which has been a complicated process.

  • Nate Samudzi was detained by ICE on February 12th, 2026 while deboarding a plane in St. Louis.
  • Nate and Sydney Samudzi have been working with an attorney for almost 4 years to establish Nate's path to citizenship.

The players

Nate Samudzi

A father and husband who has been in the United States since he was 4 years old and is currently in ICE custody after being detained while deboarding a plane in St. Louis.

Sydney Samudzi

Nate's wife who has been sharing their story and updates through Facebook posts while her husband is in ICE custody.

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What they’re saying

“Without getting into too many details this has been a traumatic and horrible situation and experience. While we remain hopeful there are still many hurdles that we may have to overcome to get Nate released and continue his path to citizenship and most importantly home to us, his family.”

— Sydney Samudzi (Facebook)

What’s next

The family is waiting to see if Nate will be released from ICE custody and able to continue his path to citizenship.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and often traumatic experiences faced by immigrant families in the United States, even those who have been living in the country for most of their lives and are working to establish legal status through proper channels.