ICE Arrests Sudanese Refugee in Nashville After 17 Years
Gabriel Maror Ayuel came to the United States as a refugee from Sudan in 1995. More than 30 years later, ICE officers found him in a Nashville apartment — and he is now facing deportation after ignoring a removal order for 17 years. His case shows that old immigration court orders never simply disappear.
ICE officers arrested Gabriel Maror Ayuel, 55, a Sudanese national who originally came to the US as a refugee, in South Nashville on May 5, 2026. The arrest came after months of investigation by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) — the part of ICE that finds and deports people with removal orders.
A Long Criminal Record and a Deportation Order He Ignored
Ayuel entered the United States as a refugee from Sudan in 1995. In 2003, he was convicted of first-degree attempted murder in Davidson County, Tennessee, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. His criminal record also includes arrests for driving under the influence and failure to appear in Georgia, as well as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony possession of a prohibited weapon, and felony flight to avoid prosecution in Tennessee.
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Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
An immigration judge issued a final order of removal — a court decision ordering someone to leave the US — for Ayuel back in July 2008. He did not leave the country. Staying in the US after a final removal order is a felony offense. Ayuel remained in the US for more than 17 years after that order. When ICE officers found him at an apartment in South Nashville, he told them he had moved in just one week earlier. He is now in ICE custody and is waiting to be deported.
What This Means for People in Removal Proceedings
This case is a reminder that ICE can locate and arrest people with old removal orders, even years or decades later. Brian Acuna, acting Field Office Director for ERO New Orleans, said removing people with serious criminal convictions is a priority for public safety. If you or someone you know has an open immigration case or a removal order — even an old one — it is important to understand your legal options now.
What to do
- If you have ever received any notice from an immigration court, find out whether a removal order (a court decision ordering you to leave the US) was issued against you. You can check your immigration court case status at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) website using your case number.
- If you have a removal order, contact an immigration lawyer as soon as possible. In some situations, it may be possible to reopen your case or apply for relief — but deadlines are strict and options depend on your specific situation.
- If ICE officers come to your door, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer before answering questions. You do not have to open the door unless officers have a signed judicial warrant.
- If you are currently in removal proceedings (meaning your case is active in immigration court), always attend your hearings. Missing a hearing can result in a removal order being issued without you present.
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A final order of removal does not expire — ICE can act on it years or even decades later, as this case shows. If you have a removal order, you may still have legal options, such as filing a motion to reopen your case (called a 'motion to reopen') with the immigration court, especially if your circumstances have changed or you have new evidence. However, these motions have strict time limits and procedural requirements that vary by situation, so you should consult an immigration attorney before taking any action.