Pregnant South African Woman Detained by ICE at Las Vegas Airport, Fiancé Pleads for Release
- Nqobile Malangeni was arrested by six ICE agents at Harry Reid International Airport on 30 July while boarding a flight
- Her US fiancé, a former armed forces member, fears he will miss the birth of their child if she is deported to South Africa
- ICE confirmed Malangeni overstayed her visa and is held at the Henderson Detention Center pending removal
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Source: Getty Images
SOUTH AFRICA — A former member of the United States armed forces is pleading for federal leniency after immigration officers apprehended his pregnant South African partner at a Las Vegas airport, warning that impending deportation could permanently divide their family.
According to eNCA, Nqobile Malangeni was taken into custody on 30 July at Harry Reid International Airport while attempting to board a flight back to Connecticut, where she resides with her partner. Malangeni had flown to Nevada on 27 July to celebrate her birthday. Video recording captures half a dozen US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers surrounding her at the terminal to serve a final order of removal.
Fiance worried about South African partner
Her fiancé stated that the pair had been making arrangements to marry prior to her apprehension. He expressed intense grief and concern that her forced return to South Africa will prevent him from witnessing their child's birth and sharing in their upbringing.
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Official ICE documentation indicates Malangeni arrived in the US on 2 December 2023 with authorization through 19 June 2024. Following her visa's expiration, a federal immigration judge issued a final removal decree on 9 February 2026. Authorities confirmed she remains in custody at the Henderson Detention Center awaiting transfer.
Her detention follows that of Lodevickus Janse Van Rensburg, who was arrested in the US in January this year. It also comes alongside an extensive State Department policy shift that has seen upwards of 175,000 foreign visas revoked nationwide. While civil liberties organizations warn of the expanding scope of these enforcement tactics, ICE authorities maintain that Malangeni will remain detained until her deportation is finalized.
View a video of the report on X here:
South African arrested in Nigeria
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the arrest of a 38-year-old South African woman at Abuja's international airport for possessing 5.75 kilograms of heroin while traveling with her three-year-old son. This incident has sparked intense debate on social media, with many users calling for severe punishment and expressing concerns over the use of children in drug trafficking schemes.
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Source: Briefly News
