MASSACHUSETTS: A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Madu, has reportedly died by suicide in Massachusetts, United States, after battling immigration challenges linked to the expiration of his religious worker visa under the U.S. immigration restrictions introduced by President Donald Trump.
The 54-year-old priest was found dead at his residence in North Shore, Massachusetts, on July 2, 2026, just weeks before his R-1 religious worker visa was due to expire on July 29.
Father Madu served at St. Ann Church and Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester, as well as St. Joachim Church in Rockport, where he had become a beloved spiritual leader among parishioners.
According to reports, Madu’s efforts to renew his visa were unsuccessful due to stricter U.S. immigration policies affecting nationals from several countries, including Nigeria.
Under the immigration rules, he was expected to return to Nigeria before reapplying for a new religious worker visa, a requirement that reportedly left him devastated.
In the weeks leading up to his death, members of his parish had publicly appealed for compassion, urging U.S. authorities to allow the priest to remain in the country.
A source familiar with the circumstances surrounding his death told NBC Boston that Father Madu took his own life.
During a Mass at St. Joachim Church on June 21, Father Madu openly shared his fears about returning to Nigeria, telling parishioners he was deeply worried about what awaited him if forced to leave the United States.
In an emotional farewell message published on the church’s website, the priest described the decision as one of the most painful moments of his life.
My heart is broken, yet my joy remains. If I am ever given the chance to minister again to the people of Gloucester and Rockport, I would gladly do it all over again.
He also wrote: I will miss the home I found away from home, a mother far from my mother, a father far from my father, and a people far from my own people.
The touching message has since sparked an outpouring of grief from parishioners, friends, and members of the Nigerian community in the United States.
Following the priest’s death, the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition called on President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately halt the deportation of Nigerians whose lives could be endangered upon their return.
The coalition also appealed for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to be granted to Nigerians fleeing insecurity and violence.
According to the group, recent immigration directives introduced in early 2026 significantly restricted visa processing for citizens of 39 countries, including Nigeria, making it extremely difficult for religious workers like Father Madu to renew their legal status or obtain permanent residency.
The coalition argued that the immigration system had become an “impossible bureaucratic maze for many foreign missionaries serving communities across the United States.
Father Madu’s death has shocked both the Catholic community in Massachusetts and Nigerians at home and abroad.
Many parishioners described him as a compassionate, dedicated, and selfless priest whose ministry touched countless lives.
His passing has also reignited conversations about the emotional and psychological toll immigration uncertainty can have on foreign workers, especially those serving religious communities.
The tragedy has prompted renewed calls for more compassionate immigration policies and stronger mental health support for migrants facing legal and personal crises.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or overwhelming emotional distress, reaching out to trusted family members, faith leaders, local mental health professionals, or a crisis support service can make a vital difference. Help is available, and no one has to face such struggles alone.
