Immigration agents detained two Congolese exchange students outside their host family’s home in Diamondhead, Mississippi, on April 21, according to local officials. The brothers, Israel and Max Makoka, were waiting for a school bus when officers placed them in zip ties in front of classmates, their coach said Wednesday.
Coach Conner Entriken described the brothers as positive members of the community and the basketball team. Israel, 18, is set to graduate this spring. Both brothers have been in the United States for more than two years and recently transferred to Hancock High School after attending Piney Woods School in Rankin County.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the brothers violated their student visas by failing to attend classes at Piney Woods, which they transferred from. ICE spokesperson Angelina Vicknair stated that they are now subject to removal because they failed to comply with visa requirements.
Family members and community leaders expressed concern over the detention. Diamondhead Mayor Anna Liese told Mississippi Today that residents are deeply affected, noting the brothers’ status as outstanding students and community members.
A petition on Change.org urging the brothers’ safe return has garnered over 2,400 signatures in two days. U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith have both indicated their offices are monitoring the situation, with Hyde-Smith stating her office is working with the brothers’ guardians.
The detention occurs amid a broader federal crackdown on immigration, including recent policies that make it harder for detained immigrants to secure bond hearings. The brothers are among thousands affected by such enforcement actions during the Trump administration and ongoing efforts.
Community members, including the mayor, emphasize their hope for a humane resolution. The community says they just want the teenagers to be returned safely and are advocating for their well-being amid what they describe as a complex legal situation.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
