"Give Godfrey His Day in Court": Tony Kozycki on Habeas Win for Deported Army Veteran - Oct. 3, 2026

Today I held a press conference in Cumming, Georgia, to share a major development in the case of my client Godfrey Wade, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime Georgia resident who was deported to Jamaica in February 2026. This week, the Superior Court of Douglas County granted our petition for a writ of habeas corpus and set aside a nearly 20-year-old misdemeanor conviction, the conviction that became the basis for Godfrey's deportation. It came from a bounced check he wrote to renew his vehicle registration. Godfrey pleaded to resolve the case and paid what he owed, with no idea it would one day be used to remove him from the country. Godfrey came here from Jamaica as a child in the 1970s with a green card. He served four years in the U.S. Army, lived in this country for more than 50 years, and spent his last decade here working at the Georgia State Capitol. He was ordered removed at an immigration hearing he never knew about. The government's own file shows his Notice to Appear listed the immigration court itself as his home address, and multiple notices came back undeliverable. He found out only after a September 2025 traffic stop for a turn-signal violation. This ruling doesn't bring Godfrey home on its own. His immigration case is still pending before the Board of Immigration Appeals. All we're asking for is what the law requires: one day in court, before an immigration judge, to make his case. As veterans, we don't leave our own behind, and I won't stop fighting until Godfrey gets that day. I'm grateful to Rep. Everton Blair Jr., who announced legislation to grant Godfrey permanent residency, to Common Defense for standing with us, and above all to Godfrey's fiancée, April Watkins, and the Wade family for their courage. Chapters: 0:00 Introductions 0:28 The court's ruling 0:51 A 20-year-old bounced check 1:20 Never notified of immigration proceedings 1:54 50 years in America and service in the U.S. Army 2:22 The Notice to Appear and undeliverable mail 2:50 From a traffic stop to deportation 3:19 The habeas ruling and due process 3:48 Next steps in the fight to bring Godfrey home 4:51 Rep. Everton Blair Jr. 6:15 Common Defense 8:02 The Wade family 10:35 Closing remarks Coverage of Godfrey's case: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026... CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/06/us/arm... Military.com: https://www.military.com/daily-news/i... AJC: https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/02/geor... #GodfreyWade #BringGodfreyWadeHome #Veterans #DueProcess #Georgia