Savannah State University student-athlete Johan Sandoval is free from federal immigration custody, thanks in part to money raised from worried supporters in Coastal Georgia who donated to his legal fund.
The Dominican baseball player is living with his American fiancée, Adriana Wade, and her family in New York after being granted a $20,000 bond on Wednesday from a federal immigration judge while his lawyer works to get his student visa reinstated.
Sandoval, 22, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a targeted operation on July 3 while staying with his fiancée in Clifton Park, New York. While he was held at an ICE processing center in New York under his full name of Johan Efrain Sandoval Rodriguez, a GoFundMe created by Sandoval’s family raised over $37,000 to cover the bond and other legal fees.
Attorney John Jeha, who works at law firm Harris Beach Murtha’s Syracuse office, said he’s grateful to win bond for Sandoval but dismayed the immigration judge has required him to wear an ankle monitor. Jeha said the bond order mentions the ankle monitor may be used around Savannah State University, but Wade said her fiancé will live with her family as they determine next steps.
“We thought that the bond being set at $20,000 was excessive,” Jeha also said. “He’s being treated like a criminal to a certain extent, and he doesn’t need to be. He’s not a criminal. He’s a good kid.”