Springfield Activists Rally for Release of MSU Employee Paul Essel from ICE Detention

The morning federal agents arrested him, Paul Essel was trying to pick up a supply for his son’s class project at a Walmart parking lot. His three children—aged 14, 10, and 5—watched from inside the car as agents surrounded his vehicle. Weeks later, that October arrest has sparked an outcry across Springfield, Missouri, uniting family members, local activists, and university colleagues who are demanding the immediate release of the Missouri State University employee.

Essel, a 51-year-old manager for MSU’s Grants and Contracts staff, is currently being held at the Greene County Jail by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As sgfcitizen.org reported, the NAACP Springfield Branch joined family members and campus supporters on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Carrington Hall to call for his freedom. The organization urged the Greene County Sheriff’s Office to cut ties with federal immigration enforcement and release all ICE detainees currently housed in the facility.

Decades of Community Roots Meet a Complex Deportation Order

For a man who has built a life in southwest Missouri over the span of 23 years, the detention has brought profound disruption. Originally from Ghana, Essel earned his master’s degree at MSU, raised three children, and became a pillar for incoming international students alongside his wife, Pearl. Online court records show he has never faced criminal charges in Missouri, save for two minor driving infractions.

“Paul Essel’s absence is deeply felt by his family, who continue to navigate the emotional hardship and uncertainty of being separated from their loved one,” the NAACP Springfield Branch stated in a press release. “Our call to bring Paul home is a call to recognize the humanity behind detention and the families it impacts.”

Yet federal authorities have maintained a deportation order issued against him over a decade ago. Essel’s long and costly journey through the immigration system traces back to 2012, when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied his application for permanent residence following his first marriage. According to a 2023 opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Department of Homeland Security alleged that marriage was fraudulent because Essel and his then-wife lived in different states. Essel maintains that his former spouse was simply fulfilling caretaking duties for her grandmother in Michigan while he completed his graduate studies in Springfield.

Despite submitting substantial evidence to his former attorney, Essel claims much of it was never presented to the immigration judge. The resulting 2015 removal order touched off a relentless legal battle. Over the years, Essel has retained three attorneys and spent upwards of $100,000 on legal fees and travel. Even after remarrying and securing approval for an I-130 petition—a standard preliminary step for relatives of U.S. citizens seeking permanent residence—the shadow of the older deportation order remained.

Missouri State University Places Essel on Administrative Leave

The enforcement action has sent ripples through Missouri State University, where colleagues and students remember Essel for his steady presence and generosity. Lawrence Kofie, a fellow native of Ghana who met Essel through international student meetings, noted how deeply Essel invested in helping newcomers adjust to life in a new country, often assisting with food, housing, and tuition costs.

MSU President Richard B. Williams placed Essel on paid administrative leave following the arrest and encouraged distressed staff to utilize counseling resources. While the university verifies employment eligibility for all new hires in accordance with state and federal laws, it confirmed it has had no communication with ICE since the arrest occurred. ICE officials did not respond to multiple requests from reporters seeking an explanation for why the enforcement action was executed now.

From inside the Greene County Jail, Essel reflected on his deep ties to the region during a phone interview with sgfcitizen.org on Tuesday, Oct. 27. “I love everything about Springfield. I think I belong,” Essel said. “I have done everything: went through school, worked, helped so many people graduate from MSU. …If this is not a good example of being a good citizen, then I don’t know what a good citizen is.”

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