UMass Dartmouth football murder suspect overstayed tourist visa, received deferred action: federal sources

A Nigerian national accused of killing a UMass Dartmouth football player entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and overstayed it before receiving deferred action under both the Biden and Trump administrations, multiple federal law enforcement sources told Fox News.

Chukwunonso Uzoma David Uzoma Eze is charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of UMass Dartmouth football player Marvins Antoine, 19, during an altercation in Providence, Rhode Island, over the weekend.

A second player, Kensley Macean, 19, suffered stab wounds to his head and neck and was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, according to the Providence Police Department.

Sources told Fox News that Eze first entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa in 2015.

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Eze received two extensions on his visa under the Obama administration before remaining in the country after his authorized stay expired, according to the sources.

Sources said the Biden administration approved Eze’s request for deferred action in September 2022.

He applied for deferred action again in February 2025 and October 2025, with the latter request approved under the Trump administration on Oct. 8, 2025, according to the sources.

Deferred action is a discretionary decision by the federal government to temporarily delay an individual’s removal from the United States. It does not provide lawful immigration status.

DHS said Eze applied for employment authorization in August 2023, but the request was rejected the following month.

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He applied again for employment authorization in February 2025 based on deferred action, and DHS said that application remains pending.

If convicted of murder, Eze will lose his deferred action, according to DHS.

According to Providence police, the stabbing took place at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot outside Mezzo Lounge.

Police said the incident stemmed from an altercation involving people who had been inside the lounge before the stabbing.

Antoine was killed after a stab to the chest, while Macean suffered stab wounds to his head and neck.

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Eze was later located and taken into custody by the UMass Dartmouth Police Department, police said.