Porsha Williams’ estranged husband, Simon Guobadia, remains in ICE custody one month after being detained.
Guobadia, who was born in Nigeria, is still being held at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s records, obtained by Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 26.
His status is listed as “in ICE custody,” which means he is being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The detainment comes amid President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan, which he signed earlier this year. Under the order, undocumented immigrants could be deported back to their countries of origin.
Us broke the news of Guobadia’s detainment on February 21. In January, his citizenship request was denied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Atlanta’s WSB-TV 2 reported earlier this year.
“It’s disheartening to see my estranged husband make choices that have led to this outcome,” Williams, 43, said in a February statement. “At this moment, my priority is moving forward with my family.”
Guobadia, 60, immigrated to the U.S. in 1982 and allegedly overstayed his visa. He returned to the U.S. in 1986 and apparently also overstayed a work visa. Guobadia was arrested the next year, pleading guilty to bank and credit card fraud. After two more arrests, Guobadia was deported in 1992. He was able to return to the U.S. one month later.
Guobadia applied to become a naturalized citizen in 2016, but was denied by the U.S. government.
In February 2024, he took to Instagram to celebrate four decades of living in America.
“Happy Tuesday to all who ever overcame and persevered in life. You are winning👌🏾👌🏾#42yearsLivinginAmerica,” he wrote at the time, sharing a photo smoking a cigar and riding on a golf cart in Georgia.
Days later Williams — who stars on The Real Housewives of Atlanta — filed for divorce after being married to Guobadia for 15 months.
Guobadia was previously married to RHOA alum Falynn Guobadia, initially denying that there was any overlap in the two romances. (He announced his engagement to Williams less than one month after revealing his divorce.)
“I’d like to seize this opportunity to thank every well-wisher of Porsha and I, whether via phone, text or DM,” Simon wrote via Instagram in May 2021. “You affirm my [belief] that finding love is possible for everyone who genuinely seeks one. Getting married again was never a question in my mind, but when. Did not expect to be blessed with a mate so soon. The interesting thing about life is that it is an individual journey.”
Williams, for her part, was previously married to Kordell Stewart from 2011 to 2013 before moving on with Dennis McKinley, with whom she shares daughter Pilar. Williams and McKinley split in 2018 and have continued to coparent their 5-year-old daughter.
“Pilar Jhena’ love of my life,” Williams gushed via Instagram of her child in February. “You make every day brighter and I thank God for you endlessly.”
