The detention follows President Donald Trump's mass deportation plan, signed into effect earlier this year after he took office. The order allows for the deportation of undocumented immigrants to their home countries.
Simon Guobadia, a Nigerian-born businessman and estranged husband of reality TV star Porsha Williams, has been embroiled in decades-long legal and immigration battles in his pursuit of U.S. citizenship.
The detention follows President Donald Trump's mass deportation plan, signed into effect earlier this year after he took office. The order allows for the deportation of undocumented immigrants to their home countries.
Recent court filings have shed light on his troubled past, sparking fresh concerns amid his ongoing divorce from Williams, UsWeekly reports.
Guobadia, 60, is currently being detained at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, with his status listed as "in ICE custody" by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
This development comes after years of unsuccessful attempts to secure U.S. citizenship, with court documents revealing a history of visa overstays, identity fraud, and multiple rejections of his naturalization applications.
Guobadia's immigration woes date back to his initial arrival in the United States on August 11, 1982, on a six-month visitor visa. He overstayed his visa, leading to a 1985 deportation order after his application for U.S. citizenship was denied. Despite this, Guobadia voluntarily left the country but re-entered the U.S. in 1986 under another six-month visa, only to overstay once again.
His most recent denial of U.S. citizenship came in July 2022, prompting a legal battle against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Court documents reveal that Guobadia filed a civil case on January 11, 2024, challenging the repeated denials of his naturalization application.
He sued top officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including Director UR Mendoza Jaddou and Shineka Miller, Director of the USCIS Atlanta Field Office.
Guobadia's application for naturalization was denied on July 27, 2022, with immigration officials citing fraudulent activity and past criminal offenses.
His history of legal troubles dates back to the 1980s, with allegations of identity fraud and multiple arrests for crimes such as bank and credit card fraud, unauthorized vehicle use, and additional fraud-related charges.
Despite these challenges, Guobadia has persisted in his pursuit of U.S. citizenship. His initial application was denied in 2016, with the USCIS citing that his original resident status was "unlawfully granted." He faced further denials in 2020 and 2022 before challenging the decision in 2023, only to be rejected once again in early 2024.
His detention by ICE in February 2025 has added another layer to his ongoing battle for citizenship.
Guobadia's citizenship issues have garnered renewed attention amid his impending divorce from Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams. Although sources close to the couple claim that the split is unrelated to his legal troubles, the timing has sparked speculation.
Guobadia's relationship with Williams began in April 2021, and they got engaged just a month later. They tied the knot in 2022, following his highly publicized divorce from his ex-wife, Falynn Guobadia. The couple's whirlwind romance was marred by controversy, with many questioning the timing of their relationship.
In 2023, Guobadia began relocating some of his investments to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, potentially due to concerns over his immigration status. Despite his legal challenges, Guobadia has built a successful business career in Atlanta, with holdings in various industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy, manufacturing, and commodities trading. He also has investments in several local businesses, such as The Republic, DAS BBQ II, and American Cut Steakhouse.
In a 2022 interview with Authority Magazine, Guobadia expressed his passion for the restaurant industry, highlighting his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
Guobadia has been married three times, with his most recent union being with Porsha Williams, which has been surrounded by controversy. Guobadia is a father of five children, Quentin, Nicole, Christian, Benjamin, and Ximena, from his previous relationships.
In a heartfelt 2022 Instagram post, he acknowledged and thanked the mothers of his children for their cooperation and support in co-parenting.
Porsha Williams, on the other hand, has a daughter named PJ from her previous relationship with entrepreneur Dennis McKinley.
His detention could lead to deportation to Nigeria or prolonged legal battles to resolve his immigration status in the U.S. More broadly, the case highlights challenges within U.S. immigration policy, including the complexities of naturalization for long-term residents with complicated immigration backgrounds.
Porsha Williams, former star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, has spoken out following the detention of her estranged husband, Guobadia, by immigration officials.
“It’s disheartening to see my estranged husband make choices that have led to this outcome,” Williams, 43, shared in an Instagram statement on Friday, February 21.
“At this moment, my priority is moving forward with my family.”