Editor's note: Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye's remarkable story will be highlighted Tuesday night when he attends the State of the Union address as a guest of Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner.
Paye, who grew up in Providence, was born in a refugee camp in Guinea and went on to star at Michigan before the Colts made him the 21st pick overall in 2021. He finished fourth on the team in sacks with four as a rookie and third this season with six.
"In so many ways, Kwity Paye's journey from a refugee camp in Guinea, to Section 8 housing in Rhode Island and now to the upper echelons of the NFL is emblematic of the American dream," Magaziner said.