Conservative Christian blogger and podcaster Samuel Sey remains in custody after immigration officers arrested him Oct. 21 at the Columbus airport and has accepted voluntary departure, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to The Dispatch.
Sey, who lives in Ohio, entered the United States legally in 2022 but stayed beyond his authorized admission period, a DHS spokesperson said.
“Sey has no pending applications and accepted voluntary departure,” the spokesperson said. “He will remain in ICE custody until removed from the United States.”
The statement did not provide a departure date or destination.
His detention has drawn support from conservative commentators, some of whom say an error involving immigration paperwork led to his arrest,
according to Religion News Service.
What DHS says about Samuel Sey’s detention
DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Sey, a Ghanaian national, at the Columbus airport.
The department said he had overstayed his authorized admission by more than four years but did not provide his exact entry date or the date his permission to stay expired.
“We do not pick and choose which laws to enforce or where to enforce them,” the spokesperson said.
Religion News Service reported Oct. 25 that Sey was being held at the Butler County Jail in Hamilton.
Supporters rally behind Sey
Sey co-hosts “The Narrative with Aaron Baer,” a conservative Christian podcast. Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, had not responded to questions from The Dispatch as of mid-afternoon Oct. 26.
According to Religion News Service, conservative commentators including Allie Beth Stuckey, Megan Basham and Joel Berry have publicly supported Sey following his arrest.
Berry organized an online fundraiser for Sey’s family and described the situation as a clerical mistake, the outlet reported. The Dispatch has not independently verified that explanation.
Sey has previously voiced support for ICE. He wrote on X in January: "If you love America you should support ICE."
The outlet reported that Sey, 39, grew up in Canada and has a wife and three children.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Conservative blogger arrested by ICE at Columbus airport, DHS confirms
