Pastor searches for congregant detained in ICE operation
Jan 22, 2026·Location: South Portland, ME
Country of origin: Angola
Evaristo Kalonji, an asylum seeker from Angola with no criminal record, was detained by ICE agents on January 22, 2026 in South Portland. His pastor, Carlos Nzolameso, found Kalonji's car abandoned with keys on the floor. Kalonji was moved between detention centers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island while his pending asylum case awaits a court date scheduled for May 2028.
Sources
- Texas pastor detained by ICE while dropping daughter to school, family says
Newsweek·Apr 3, 2025·archived copy
- A pastor's search for missing congregant amid ICE activity in Maine
themainemonitor.org·Jan 28, 2026·archived copy
- Westbrook pastor says member of congregation detained by ICE agents
WGME·Jan 31, 2026·archived copy
- Michigan pastor helping those targeted by ICE says many are in U.S. legally
- 12news.com
More incidents in Maine
- Maine ICE observer detained at border after being wrongly added to DHS databaseOct 2, 2026 · Portland, ME
- Congolese asylum seeker, jail officer, detained by ICE at routine check-inSep 22, 2026 · Scarborough, ME
- Angolan bank worker arrested by ICE in Lewiston parking lot, judge blocks removalSep 4, 2026 · Lewiston, ME
- Corrections officer with valid work permit detained by ICE in South PortlandAug 28, 2026 · South Portland, ME
- Cumberland County corrections officer detained by ICE in South PortlandAug 27, 2026 · South Portland, ME
- Cumberland County corrections officer from Angola detained by ICE, sheriff praises himAug 23, 2026 · Portland, ME