Suspect Charged in UMass Dartmouth Death Had Immigration Case Deferred

A Nigerian national charged with killing a UMass Dartmouth football player had overstayed a tourist visa and later received deferred action under both the Biden and Trump administrations.

According to Fox News, Chukwunonso Uzoma David Uzoma Eze is accused of fatally stabbing 19-year-old Marvins Antoine during an altercation in Providence, Rhode Island.

Another UMass Dartmouth player, 19-year-old Kensley Macean, was also wounded in the incident and hospitalized with stab injuries to his head and neck.

Federal sources said Eze originally entered the United States on a tourist visa and received two extensions during the Obama administration. He remained in the country after his authorized stay expired, according to the sources.

The Biden administration approved Eze's request for deferred action in September 2022, the sources said. He later submitted additional requests in February and October 2025, with the October application approved on Oct. 8, 2025, under the Trump administration.

Deferred action allows federal immigration authorities to temporarily postpone removal proceedings against an individual. It does not itself grant lawful immigration status.

The Department of Homeland Security said Eze first sought employment authorization in August 2023, but that application was denied the following month. He submitted another employment authorization request in February 2025 based on his deferred-action status, and DHS said that application remains pending.

DHS also said Eze would lose his deferred action if he is convicted of murder.

The criminal case stems from a stabbing reported around 12:30 a.m. Saturday in a parking lot outside Mezzo Lounge in Providence. Police said the violence followed an altercation involving people who had been inside the lounge.

Antoine suffered a stab wound to the chest and died, while Macean sustained wounds to his head and neck. Eze was later located and taken into custody by UMass Dartmouth police, according to authorities.

Eze has been charged in connection with Antoine's death and is expected to face the Rhode Island case after proceedings in Massachusetts.

It was previously reported that he pleaded not guilty to a fugitive-from-justice charge in New Bedford District Court and was ordered held without bail pending extradition.

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