The Nigerian national charged with the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old UMass Dartmouth football player was in the United States illegally and shielded from deportation by both the Biden and Trump administrations, federal law enforcement sources confirmed to Fox News. The revelation has ignited debate over immigration enforcement policies and the deferred action program that allowed the suspect to remain in the country despite his visa overstay.
Chukwunonso David Uzoma-Eze, 19, is accused of stabbing two football players near a Providence, Rhode Island nightclub early Saturday morning. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, where Marvins Antoine, 18, later lost his life. The loss has devastated the UMass Dartmouth community, where Antoine was a freshman student-athlete with his future ahead of him.
The incident occurred in a Wendy’s parking lot across from Mezzo Lounge after an altercation that began in line outside the club, Providence police said. The confrontation reportedly escalated quickly from a verbal dispute to physical violence in the early morning hours.
BREAKING: Federal law enforcement sources confirm to @FoxNews that the suspect arrested for stabbing two UMass Dartmouth football players over the weekend, killing one, is a Nigerian national who had been in the U.S. illegally as a B-2 visa overstay, but was shielded from… pic.twitter.com/m7GJnBodtO
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 25, 2026
Authorities arrested Uzoma-Eze, who is also a UMass Dartmouth student, on campus. The fact that both the suspect and victim attended the same university has added another layer of tragedy to the case.
Uzoma-Eze entered the country legally in 2015 but overstayed his tourist visa, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News. B-2 visas are typically granted for tourism or temporary visits, with stays generally limited to six months. Visa overstays represent a significant portion of the undocumented immigrant population in the United States, often receiving less attention than border crossings despite their frequency. In September 2022, the Biden administration approved his request for deferred action, delaying his deportation.
The Nigerian national applied for a work permit in August 2023, but officials rejected the request the following month. Deferred action status does not automatically grant work authorization, requiring a separate application process.
Uzoma-Eze applied a second time for deferred action in February 2025 and a third time in October 2025. The Trump administration granted that request on Oct. 8, 2025 — just months before the alleged attack. This approval demonstrates that immigration enforcement decisions span multiple administrations regardless of stated policy differences, with both Democratic and Republican officials exercising discretion in deportation cases.
In February 2025, Uzoma-Eze applied again for a work permit based on his deferred action status. That application remains pending. The timeline shows persistent efforts to regularize his immigration status through official channels over several years.
Uzoma-Eze now faces charges in connection with the stabbing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer with the Bristol County House of Correction, a routine procedure when individuals in criminal custody are suspected of immigration violations. He was expected to be transferred to Rhode Island on Friday to face charges.
If convicted, Uzoma-Eze will lose his protections from deportation.
Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey walked away when a reporter asked her about Uzoma-Eze’s immigration status on Friday. Massachusetts has implemented sanctuary policies that limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, a point of contention in this case.
“Are your policies to blame at all for this UMass Dartmouth stabbing by an illegal immigrant? Should you try to work with ICE?” the reporter asked as the governor rushed away without responding. Her silence has drawn criticism from those who argue state leaders should address questions about how immigration policies intersect with public safety.
The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court. Uzoma-Eze is entitled to the presumption of innocence as the legal process moves forward through the Rhode Island court system.
#Breaking: Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey @MassGovernor quickly hustled out of an event today to avoid media questions about the revelation by @FoxNews that the suspect of the fatal stabbing of a UMass Dartmouth football player is an illegal immigrant from #Nigeria. Healey said… pic.twitter.com/VSt6cCtbGg
— Tim Dunn (@ConsiderMeDunn) September 25, 2026
