KENYA: About 1,282 Kenyans Facing Deportation In United States Immigration Crackdown – ICE

     By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified 1,282 Kenyans among 1.4 million undocumented individuals from 187 countries who are set for deportation.

The operation, which ICE described as part of its routine enforcement, aims to expel those residing in the U.S. without legal authorisation.

Several African nations are affected, including Tanzania (301), Uganda (393), Somalia (4,090), South Sudan (136), Ethiopia (1,713), and Rwanda (338).

Others on the list include Burundi (462), the Democratic Republic of Congo (795), Djibouti (29), Nigeria (3,690), Niger (642), Zimbabwe (545), and Zambia (174).

ICE stated that those targeted have violated immigration laws or committed offenses that warrant their removal.

The agency emphasised that its operations follow legal procedures and due process.

U.S. immigration policies have shifted significantly in recent years.

Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump empowered immigration authorities to expedite deportations without court intervention.

Since then, large-scale immigration raids have taken place in various cities, including Chicago and Newark, drawing criticism from local leaders.

Since Trump returned to power on January 20, he has prioritized mass deportations, calling it the most extensive removal operation in U.S. history.

His administration has already implemented 21 executive orders to reform immigration policies.

On Sunday, federal agencies carried out a nationwide immigration crackdown, leading to the arrest of 956 individuals, the highest number recorded since Trump resumed office.

The operation took place in multiple cities, with newly expanded detention powers enabling authorities to execute arrests.

While Trump’s approach to immigration enforcement has been aggressive, his predecessor, Joe Biden, focused on removing individuals with criminal records, deporting an average of 311 people per day during his term.

With the ongoing crackdown, Kenyans and other affected individuals face the risk of deportation as the U.S. government continues to tighten its stance on illegal immigration.