Former Syracuse basketball player John Bol Ajak will be deported to Sudan after spending more than a month in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, according to Syracuse.com.
The 26-year-old Ajak, who was born in Natinga, South Sudan, reportedly agreed to a voluntary deportation order Thursday during a virtual hearing before Immigration Judge Adam G. Panopoulos of the Elizabeth Immigration Court in New Jersey.
The judge said that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security proved Ajak overstayed his visa, which expired in 2023 after he graduated from Syracuse University, per the outlet.
He remained in Syracuse, despite having 60 days to leave the country.
A voluntary departure allows a noncitizen to leave the U.S. at their own expense within a specific amount of time in order to avoid a deportation order, per the Department of Justice.
With a voluntary departure, a noncitizen may be able to apply for a visa to return to the U.S. from their home country.
It is unclear when Ajak will be deported.
According to police records, Ajak had been arrested several times since December for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.
During the hearing, Ajak, who is currently being held at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, said he wanted to leave the country as quickly as possible.
“If this is how I’m leaving, I never want to step foot in this country again,” said Ajak, who represented himself during the hearing and did not want a lawyer.
Ajak said he wanted to return to Pawuoi Payam in Twic East County, South Sudan, where his parents and most of his family lives, and that he does not fear for his safety there.
He was living with a relative when he was taken into ICE custody on Feb. 18 after being released from jail on pretrial release, according to Syracuse.com.
The 6-foot-10 backup center played three seasons for Syracuse from 2020-23, under then-coach Jim Boeheim.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School in December 2023. He later began graduate studies but did not finish.
Ajak said he came to the U.S. from Kenya in 2014 to pursue an education and basketball opportunities in Pennsylvania.