Published: December 8, 2025
Last month, the tight-knit soccer and school community in Portland, Maine, was shaken when 16-year-old high-schooler Joel Andre and his family were detained by U.S. immigration authorities. It has been reported that Joel Andre, his mother, and his younger sister are being held at a detention facility in Texas, while his older sister is being held in a separate facility in New York.
Joel first came to the U.S. in 2022 and had been living in Portland, attending Deering High School, and regularly playing in games at Kennedy Park, as well as on the school’s soccer team. Friends describe him as humble, kind, and a team player. One described him as being “incredibly well-loved by everybody that comes here.”
A minister from the family’s church echoed that sentiment, saying, “They are good people. They have a good influence, [and] good friends in the community. Really, really nice people.”
According to officials, Joel’s family entered the United States unauthorized in 2022, and they were later issued a deportation order. Their asylum claim in Canada was denied, and upon return, they were detained by border agents on Nov. 12 at the Champlain Port of Entry.
For many in Portland, especially among students, teammates, and the broader immigrant community, Joel’s detention feels like a painful loss. Teammates held a solidarity pickup game at Kennedy Park after news broke. Some wore jerseys with his number; others waved the Congolese flag in support.
School officials said the sudden disappearance of students mid-term has been traumatic, and they’re offering support to classmates and staff. Meanwhile, a local effort has begun to help the family secure legal representation.
Joel and his family’s situation shows how immigration decisions reverberate through local communities and affect young lives. His removal leaves a void in both the school and the neighborhood, as those who care about him and his family are left uncertain about their future.
At the point of publication, the family remains in immigration detention. Local organizations and community members are rallying around them by raising funds for legal fees and urging authorities to reconsider their case.
The story has sparked broader conversations in Portland about immigration enforcement, the rights of asylum-seekers, and the responsibility of schools and communities to support vulnerable students.
