Maine Pastor Detained by ICE for Nearly Decade Visa Overstay

Michel Tshimankinda, a pastor from Westbrook, Maine, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying a tourist visa he entered on in 2016. ICE detained Tshimankinda while he was driving his wife home, and he is currently being held at a facility in Dover, New Hampshire. Tshimankinda has been active in the Maine community, serving as pastor at the Restoration Church of Maine and working as a laboratory technician, while also participating in local churches such as LifeChurch in Gorham. His family reportedly arrived legally in the U.S. in 2016 and applied for asylum before their visas expired, though ICE has not confirmed if this application affects his case. Friends and fellow pastors express hope for his release, emphasizing his positive contributions and the difficult circumstances that led him to seek refuge in the U.S. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $24,000 to support his legal defense and family needs during his detention.