Ugandan Asylum Seeker and Nurse Faces Uncertain Future in Vermont

Steven Tendo, a torture survivor, was detained by ICE but later released due to a judge's ruling that his due process rights were violated.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker and nurse working in Vermont, was detained by ICE in 2021 despite having no criminal record. His lawyers argue that ICE appears to have arrest quotas, leading them to detain individuals even when their asylum applications are still pending. A judge recently ruled that ICE violated Tendo's due process rights by not providing proper notice before revoking his supervised release, leading to his release. However, Tendo is still facing an uncertain future as he must check in with ICE again on March 20th.

Why it matters

Tendo's case highlights the challenges faced by asylum seekers in the U.S., especially during periods of increased immigration enforcement. His detention despite having no criminal record and being employed as a nurse raises concerns about potential quotas driving ICE's actions, rather than an individualized assessment of each case.

The details

Tendo fled Uganda after being tortured, shot in the leg, and losing two fingers due to his political activism. He sought asylum at the border in 2018, but his application was denied in 2019 due to alleged inconsistencies. He was then detained for two and a half years before being released on supervised release in 2021. In February 2023, ICE arrested Tendo two days before a scheduled check-in, which a judge later ruled violated his due process rights. Tendo was then released, but faces another check-in with ICE on March 20th.

  • Tendo sought asylum at the border in 2018.
  • Tendo's asylum application was denied in 2019.
  • Tendo was detained for two and a half years before being released on supervised release in 2021.
  • In February 2023, ICE arrested Tendo two days before a scheduled check-in.
  • Tendo is expected to check in with ICE again on March 20th, 2023.

The players

Steven Tendo

A Ugandan asylum seeker and nurse working in Vermont who was detained by ICE despite having no criminal record.

Christopher Worth

Tendo's lawyer, who argues that ICE appears to have arrest quotas leading them to detain individuals even when their asylum applications are still pending.

Senator Peter Welch

A Vermont senator who spoke with Tendo about the poor conditions at the Dover detention center where he was held.

Department of Homeland Security

The agency that denied Tendo's asylum application in 2019, citing inconsistencies.

ICE

The federal agency that detained Tendo and is now requiring him to check in again on March 20th.

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What they’re saying

“The circumstances he described in Dover were really — very, very bad.”

— Senator Peter Welch (WCAX)

“The pattern that we're seeing is that ICE seems to have a quota for arrests. I've heard that they have to make 3,000 arrests every day, and that's very hard to do. And so, ICE seems to be arresting everyone they possibly can, whether or not that person may be removed or not.”

— Christopher Worth, Tendo's Lawyer (WCAX)

What’s next

Tendo is expected to check in with ICE on March 20th at their St. Albans office. While his attorneys are hard at work trying to delay his potential removal, it's unclear if he will be detained again before then.

The takeaway

Tendo's case highlights the challenges faced by asylum seekers in the U.S., especially during periods of increased immigration enforcement. His detention despite having no criminal record and being employed as a nurse raises concerns about potential quotas driving ICE's actions, rather than an individualized assessment of each case.