PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 A Ugandan man being deported after a sexual assault conviction is now accused of biting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a violent escape attempt at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.<\/p>\n
Federal court documents say Kiiza Donald Atuhairwe was being escorted by ICE officers on a flight from El Paso to Uganda when he tried to run during a layover at Sky Harbor\u2019s Terminal 4 on May 28 after officers refused to let him smoke a cigarette.<\/p>\n
Atuhairwe, an international student in the U.S. on a visa while attending a Wisconsin university, was convicted in 2023 of sexual assault in Superior, Wisconsin. He was ordered removed from the United States in 2025.<\/p>\n
Atuhairwe, an international student in the U.S. on a visa while attending a Wisconsin university, had been convicted of sexual assault and disorderly conduct and was in the process of being deported as part of an order from an immigration judge.<\/p>\n
Agents told investigators Atuhairwe ran through the terminal, pushing down \u201colder adults and children,\u201d then stopped and threatened to fight the officers. An officer tackled him, and during the struggle, documents allege Atuhairwe bit the top of the officer\u2019s left hand and the officer\u2019s right ring finger.<\/p>\n
Court records also say bystanders tried to pull the officer off Atuhairwe, and one person struck the officer in the head and the shoulder. Phoenix police also responded, according to the documents.<\/p>\n
After his arrest, Atuhairwe reportedly told police he ran because he was scared and \u201clost his mind.\u201d He also claimed the bite was accidental because he \u201ccould not breathe\u201d and the officer\u2019s \u201cfinger was in his mouth,\u201d and said he would like to apologize, according to the documents.<\/p>\n
Atuhairwe is charged with assault on a federal officer.<\/p>\n
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n