‘Forced apart’: Family-run Providence restaurant shaken by manager’s ICE arrest
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The manager of Suya Joint, an acclaimed West African restaurant serving Boston and Providence, was detained by federal immigration agents last Sunday.
Paul Naanman Dama, 46, was arrested June 15 in Brockton, Massachusetts, and placed into removal proceedings, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Boston told 12 News.
Suya Joint owner Cecelia Lizotte said Dama, her older brother and the establishment’s longtime manager, was stopped and taken into custody while on his way to church.
He is currently being held at the Strafford County Jail in New Hampshire, according to the restaurant’s website.
ICE described Dama as an “illegally present Nigerian alien” who has been unlawfully in the United States since August 2019. He reportedly entered the country legally on May 2, 2019, with a B-2 visitor visa, but stayed after it expired on Aug. 22, 2019.
Dama will reportedly remain in ICE custody until a decision is made on his deportation. According to ICE, he also has two prior convictions for driving under the influence of liquor. Both instances allegedly happened in late 2024.
Meanwhile, Suya Joint claims Dama was not provided a clear explanation for his detention and is still unaware of the exact charges he’s facing.
In a social media post, the restaurant said it is “suffering beyond words” as staff and family members grapple with the trauma of Dama’s detention and navigate the emotional and financial toll.
“As a tight-knit team and family business, we’ve always leaned on each other through every challenge,” the post read. “Now, being forced apart like this is tearing through the heart of our home and community.”
To support Dama’s legal expenses, Suya Joint said 20% of sales from one of its menu items will go directly toward covering attorney fees and court costs.
Additionally, a GoFundMe page has raised nearly $20,000 since his arrest.
The restaurant described Dama as a faithful and hardworking man, saying his “work ethic, calm nature, and strong moral compass help define the culture of our business.”
“This sudden separation has been incredibly traumatic for our family, and we are doing our best to hold things together without the person who has always been an anchor in our lives,” Suya Joint said.
A recent update on the GoFundMe page said Dama had his first hearing before an immigration judge on Thursday morning. His attorney reportedly told him he must reapply for an asylum visa before his next court date on July 3.
Mass. State Rep. Liz Miranda said, in a social media post, her office is demanding answers about Dama’s detention and claims he is a lawful resident with a pending asylum case.
“We’ve reached out directly to ICE seeking answers and accountability, notified our federal delegation, and we will continue pushing until we get them,” Miranda wrote. “Paul deserves due process and humane treatment.”
