HBCU Baseball Star Released From ICE Detention

The discussion surrounding ICE and their operations has been front and center in the United States for the better part of the last year.

This summer, an HBCU baseball star’s path crossed with the immigration enforcement agency, which has garnered a lot of attention.

Savannah State’s Johan Sandoval has since been released from ICE custody, but the dialogue around the circumstances of his detainment and the aftermath of the situation remains ongoing.

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.
https://t.co/CL3pRWfq4a

— Times Free Press (@TimesFreePress) July 18, 2026

Sandoval was taken into custody at his girlfriend’s mother’s house on July 4^th weekend in Clifton Park, New York, where his girlfriend stated that Sandoval’s phone was broken in the encounter with ICE agents. Sandoval hails from Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.

“From his perspective, he was scared, intimiated, shocked, unsure about what was going on, and he was compliant the whole time,” said Sandoval’s attorney, John Jeha.

Jeha contends that Sandoval’s old school, Bryant & Stratton College, and his current school, Savannah State, did not have their process buttoned up when it came to filing for and processing Sandoval’s Form I-20 paperwork for international students. The claim involves a lack of a completed Form I-20, which may have invalidated his student visa.

“It’s a bureaucratic mistake that has resulted in catastrophic consequences,” Jeha said.

Jeha said that Sandoval didn’t deserve to be detained in the first place given the administrative situation.

“The immigration system has a reinstatement process for precisely these kinds of situations,” Jeha said. “He’s not a public safety threat. He hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s a student visa compliance issue, and this is not the right approach to deal with that.”

The Savannah State star was eventually released from ICE custody on a $20,000 bond, and spoke about his experience in the detention center.

“First of all, I wanna thank, God for, like, touching the judge’s heart, you know. She granted me the bond. The ankle bracelet, you know, is hard ‘cause, uh, a lot of people judge you, you know, and they start thinking and saying, even out loud, that you’re a criminal, that you’re bad, that you’re a bad person,” Sandoval said.

Sandoval had a standout 2026 campaign for Savannah State, starting all 47 games while hitting .369 with 51 RBI. He also stole 21 bases and was named Most Valuable Player at the Minority Prospects HBCU All-Star Game.

His experience took a mental toll on him, he said after release.

“I couldn’t sleep for days, you know,” Sandoval said. “Like, I was just thinking, like, ‘What am I gonna do here? I don’t belong here.’”

He also spoke about the episode not truly being over despite his release.

“Now I’m here, but I still have the thought that I’m going to go back,” Sandoval stated. “That somebody’s going to come get me. I still haven’t processed it.”

Sandoval will try to pick up the pieces, but has gratitude for the support he’s received from his school.

“My dream is to give them a championship, we can hold the trophy, for the people in Savannah. I love playing. I can’t wait to be in the classroom,” Sandoval said. “And as soon as I get back, the first thing I’m going to do, is say thank you. I do appreicate all the love and support they have done for me.”