Free Armande Namegni
Her Story
Armande fled political violence in Cameroon and sought safety in the United States in 2019. Upon arrival, she immediately declared her status and applied for asylum. From that day forward, she has complied fully with every requirement placed before her—attending each mandated appointment and honoring every legal obligation asked of her.
She represents the very best of what we hope for in someone seeking to build a life here: a woman of deep faith and character who persevered through profound hardship, works in a highly technical field, and brings specialized skills that are rare and difficult to replace.
On January 22, 2026, Armande attended a routine immigration check-in, expecting nothing unusual. Instead, she was told there was a shoplifting charge on her record—a charge that was misattributed and has since been removed from her record, but the fact that it had never happened did not matter. She was taken into detention that evening and has not been released.
As of March 13, she has been held for 50 days without bond.
Despite having done everything right—despite the fact that the allegation leading to her detention was unfounded and has been cleared—Armande remains in Phelps County detention with no clear timeline for release.
Statement from Joshua B., a retired US Military Service member
My name is Joshua. I’m a retired member of the U.S. military, and for more than twenty years I served in an institution built on discipline, order, and respect for the rule of law. Because of that background, I have always believed deeply that systems like our courts and our immigration system ultimately work the way they are supposed to. I assumed that when someone ended up detained in immigration custody, it was because they had broken the law or were trying to take advantage of the system.
I believed that until I met Armande.
Armande is the kind of person you might meet and instantly realize how extraordinary she is. She carries the light of Jesus Christ within her and shares His good news whenever she has the opportunity. She is incredibly kind, thoughtful, and deeply faithful -the kind of person who shows up early to help, who listens more than she speaks, and who treats everyone around her with genuine respect and kindness. (read more)
Contact Legislators
If you live in Missouri, we ask that you take the time to call your legislators about her case. This list encapsulates all of Armande's representatives, but please contact those whose voting district you reside in. We have a script below that you can use specifically if you would like, but feel free to modify it to share your own perspective. If you'd like her A number so it is clear who you are calling about, reach out at support@freearmande.com.
Who to Contact
Script
Nick Schroer (State Senator)
phone: 573-751-1282
Dave Hinman (State House Rep)
email: Dave.Hinman@house.mo.gov
phone: 573-751-2176
Bill Hennessy (Mayor of O'Fallon)
email: bhennessy@ofallonmo.gov
phone: 636-379-5500
Debbie Cook (Ward 5 Councilmember)
email: dcook@ofallonmo.gov
phone: 636-379-5588
Linda Ragsdale (Ward 5 Councilmember)
email: lragsdale@ofallonmo.gov
phone: 636-379-5584
Ann Wagner (US House Rep)
phone: (636) 231-1001
Josh Hawley (US Senator)
link to contact form
phone: 314-354-7060
Eric Schmitt (US Senator)
phone: 314-230-7263
Hello, my name is [your name] and I am a voting constituent in Missouri in zip code [your zip]. I'm calling because I am concerned about Armande Rhea Namegni who is currently in detention about an asylum case due to a misattributed shoplifting charge. That charge has since been removed, but she is still in detention. Armande is a pillar of her community, and is exactly the type of person we want in our state. I urge you to pressure the court system to immediately grant her bond so she can resume her life and continue her process of applying for asylum.
Armande's case, and the mishandling of other lawful immigration cases in our state generally, is a central factor in how I am planning to vote in the next election.
Thank you,
[your name]