1,282 Kenyan Immigrants for Deportation As For Trump Administration Targets
Over 1,200 Kenyan immigrants living in the United States without proper documentation are bracing for the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial mass deportation agenda.
Data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveals that 1,282 Kenyans are among the more than 1.4 million non-citizens with final orders of removal on the agency’s non-detained docket.
The Kenyan immigrant population in the U.S. recently surpassed 100,000, but for many, the fear of deportation has created an atmosphere of panic. “Currently, we’re scared. We are facing a moment where we feel as though we’re not safe. We don’t know what’s going to happen. There’s panic. There’s chaos,” said Mexican national Sarai Marquez, highlighting the widespread anxiety.
Trump’s immigration policies, a cornerstone of his campaign, include plans to issue nearly 100 executive orders, with at least 10 directly targeting immigration. Declaring a national emergency on border security, Trump has authorized military involvement to expedite deportations.
On Monday, the Department of Defense released footage showing migrants being loaded onto military aircraft at Fort Bliss, Texas. Images of individuals in chains and handcuffs being guided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have sparked international criticism.
Deportation flights began last Friday, though diplomatic challenges emerged when Mexico and Colombia refused to accept U.S. military aircraft carrying deportees. Despite these setbacks, the Pentagon has announced plans to transport over 5,000 migrants currently held in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, to their respective countries.
In his first day in office, Trump labeled illegal immigration a national emergency, proposing measures to ban asylum claims broadly and restrict birthright citizenship. For many affected migrants, the only hope lies in securing legal relief, such as asylum, protection under the Convention Against Torture, or withholding of removal. ICE is legally barred from executing deportations if such relief is granted.
With tensions high and options limited, the fate of thousands of undocumented immigrants, including Kenyans, hangs in the balance.
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1,282 Kenyan Immigrants for Deportation As For Trump Administration Targets
