Simon Guobadia, a Nigerian businessman and estranged husband of reality television star Porsha Williams, has been deported from the United States after residing in the country for over four decades. His deportation stems from a complex immigration history marked by visa overstays, a contested marriage for citizenship, and criminal convictions. This complicated past ultimately caught up with him, leading to his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and subsequent removal to Nigeria. The timing of his deportation coincided with a broader push for stricter immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, though the specific details of his case suggest a long-standing issue with his immigration status.
Guobadia’s immigration troubles began shortly after his arrival in the US in 1982. He initially overstayed his visa and was subsequently deemed deportable in 1985. In an attempt to rectify his status, he married an American citizen, Karron English. However, his application for Adjustment of Status was denied on the grounds that the marriage was suspected to be a sham, a claim supported by his ex-wife’s testimony. Despite his deportation order, Guobadia re-entered the US in 1986 on another visitor’s visa, which he again overstayed. This pattern of entering and overstaying visas established a precedent of disregard for US immigration laws, laying the groundwork for his eventual deportation decades later.
Complicating his immigration woes, Guobadia faced multiple arrests for various offenses, including bank and credit card fraud, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and further credit card fraud. These criminal activities further jeopardized his chances of obtaining legal status and contributed to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service initiating deportation proceedings against him. He was eventually forcibly removed from the US in 1992 under a judge’s order. Despite this, Guobadia managed to re-enter the country and obtain a green card in 1992 through the Special Agricultural Worker program, allegedly using a false identity. This temporary reprieve from deportation allowed him to establish businesses and build a life in the US, but the underlying issue of his fraudulent entry remained unresolved.
Guobadia’s arrest and subsequent detention occurred in February 2024 after he traveled to the US to attend a hearing related to his ongoing divorce from Porsha Williams. Ironically, it was this trip, intended to address a personal matter, that triggered his final removal from the country. He was held at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, for three months before being deported to Nigeria. This detention marked a significant hardship for Guobadia, who reportedly had limited contact with his family and friends during this period. The experience, his first time behind bars, was emotionally challenging, highlighting the personal cost of his protracted legal battle.
The circumstances surrounding Guobadia’s marriage to Porsha Williams added another layer of complexity to his story. Their relationship, which began shortly after his separation from another reality television personality, Falynn Pina, played out publicly. The subsequent divorce proceedings, compounded by allegations of misrepresentation regarding Williams’ continued involvement in the Real Housewives of Atlanta franchise, contributed to the media scrutiny surrounding Guobadia. While these personal matters did not directly cause his deportation, they certainly intertwined with the unfolding legal drama.
Following his deportation, Guobadia expressed his intent to reunite with his children and potentially relocate to Dubai, where he had previously resided. His business partner confirmed his deportation and described him as being in “good spirits” despite the ordeal. While the official response from Nigerian authorities remained unclear at the time of reporting, Guobadia’s deportation marked a decisive end to his long and tumultuous relationship with the United States. His story serves as a cautionary tale of the complexities of immigration law and the consequences of repeatedly circumventing legal processes. It also highlights the human cost of deportation, separating individuals from their families, businesses, and the lives they have built.
