Over 1,200 Kenyans living in the United States are currently facing the threat of deportation due to President Donald Trump’s new immigration policies.
These policies are designed to tighten restrictions on undocumented migrants and make it more difficult for individuals without legal status to remain in the country.
Since Trump took office, the US administration has implemented a series of executive orders aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
These orders focus heavily on the deportation of individuals who are living in the country without proper documentation.
As of November 2024, there were 1,445,549 noncitizens in the US with final orders of removal, and among them, 1,282 are Kenyans.
These individuals, who have either overstayed their visas or entered the US illegally, are now part of a group being targeted for mass deportation.
The new immigration policies are part of Trump’s broader effort to overhaul the immigration system and ensure that only those with legal status can remain in the country.
However, this has raised concerns, particularly regarding the potential impact on remittances sent from the US to Kenya.
The US has long been the largest source of remittances to Kenya, accounting for more than half of all remittance inflows.
In 2024, the Central Bank of Kenya reported that Kenyans abroad sent home a total of KSh 640 billion.
This money plays a crucial role in supporting families back home, helping to pay for education, healthcare, and other essential needs.
With so many Kenyans at risk of deportation, there are fears that this financial support could be affected, potentially leaving many families in Kenya struggling to make ends meet.
While deportations are underway, there are several factors that could delay or prevent them.
Some individuals may seek asylum or other forms of protection, such as the Convention Against Torture, which could prevent their removal.
Additionally, the US government has noted that the deportation process is often delayed due to a lack of cooperation from foreign governments, including Kenya.
This can complicate efforts to confirm the citizenship of those being deported and hinder the issuance of necessary travel documents.
For example, if the Kenyan government is slow to provide the required documentation, it could delay the deportation process for some individuals.
The threat of deportation is a concern for many Kenyans in the US. Not only do they fear being separated from their families, but they also worry about the economic impact that the reduction in remittances could have on their communities back home.
Many Kenyans in the US have built lives for themselves and their families, and the thought of being forced to leave is deeply unsettling.
For those who have been in the US for many years, deportation would mean leaving behind jobs, homes, and communities they have become a part of.
It would also mean returning to a country where they may no longer have strong ties or opportunities for employment.
The new immigration policies under President Trump have put over 1,200 Kenyans in the US at risk of deportation.
This has raised concerns not only for the individuals directly affected but also for their families and communities in Kenya, who rely on remittances for financial support.
While there are factors that could delay or prevent deportation, the uncertainty and fear surrounding this issue are major.
For many Kenyans in the US, the threat of deportation represents not just the loss of a home but also the potential disruption of the lives they have worked hard to build.
