“I love this country (…) and I just ask to be treated fairly,” says Rodney Taylor from Stewart Detention Center where he is facing deportation

Rodney Taylor has been issued travel documents to begin his removal to Liberia, his wife Mildred Danis-Taylor said on Friday afternoon. The Gwinnett County resident and double amputee has been held at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin for over a year, and has not been to Liberia, where he was born, for more than 40 years. He has no family in the country; his wife, children and mother all live in the U.S. 

“We learned on Wednesday that there is a travel document which can now expedite his deportation,” Mildred said, speaking at an online press conference, where she was joined by members of the nonprofits We are CASA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta, El Refugio, UndocuBlack, and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration. 

Rodney’s mother brought him to the U.S. from Liberia when he was just a toddler for medical treatment for his legs. In January of 2025, immigration officers  arrested him at his home in Loganville. He had been in the process of applying for a legal status, had a social security number, and his work permit had been approved on January 17. Three days after that approval, he was arrested by ICE. He had received a burglary conviction as a teenager, which the state pardoned. He has been fighting his immigration case in federal court ever since his detention early last year. 

Rodney currently has the flu, said Mildred, and the detention facility has not provided him with the medical care he needs. “It’s really hard for him to speak, his throat [hurts], he has chills, which we know means he had a fever, severe headache, coughing, and really heavy congestion,” she said. He’s also been struggling to use his prosthetics and his wheelchair.

Mildred and the organizers urged the over 60 people onwho joined the video call to join a phone blitz to request the release of Rodney from Stewart Detention Center. People were encouraged to call ICE’s Atlanta Field Office, Georgia Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, congressional members in Georgia and throughout the country. They aim to put pressure on DHS and Rodney’s deportation officer, Jeffrey Knowles, not to deport Rodney  and instead transport him to a hospital to receive the medical care he needs. 

“We’re reaching out to you, reaching out to different organizations to come together and stand as a community, to fight for Rodney Taylor, but not only for Rodney Taylor, but for other detainees that don’t have a voice; that may not speak English that may not have this type of advocacy and support or don’t know how to access it,” Mildred said. 

Just last week, Mildred and their two daughters were in Washington D.C. to elevate Rodney’s case to former Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem. At the hearing, Noem said she would look into his case. The next day, Noem was removed from her position, and it is unclear if the new secretary will review his case. 

In a voice message Rodney recorded to be played at the press conference, he pleaded for the humane treatment of all the immigrants in detention, and reaffirmed how thankful he is to be a contributing member of society. 

“Where else can a double amputee be able to strive, have a family, and be able to build his own business?,” he said. “In another country you can’t do that, so I love this country (…) and I just ask to be treated fairly.”