The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration continues to escalate, as over 1,200 Kenyan immigrants in the United States now face the imminent threat of deportation. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), there are currently more than 1.4 million non-citizens with final orders of removal from the U.S., including 1,282 Kenyans.
This mass deportation program, which is part of President-elect Donald Trump’s hardline approach to immigration, has left many Kenyan immigrants living in fear and uncertainty. “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,” expressed Sarai Marquez, a Mexican national living in the U.S. amid similar deportation fears.
Kenya is one of several countries with a significant immigrant population in the U.S., with estimates showing that over 100,000 Kenyans now reside there. For many, their only hope of avoiding deportation rests on seeking relief through asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture. If granted, this relief prevents ICE from carrying out the deportation order.
Trump’s push for mass deportations has been one of the central promises of his administration. On his first day in office, he declared illegal immigration a national emergency, directing the military to assist in securing the U.S. border and expediting deportations. The Department of Defense has already released footage showing migrants boarding military aircraft at Fort Bliss, Texas, as part of this process.
However, the deportation efforts have sparked international tensions. Mexico recently refused to allow a U.S. military aircraft carrying deportees to land, while Colombia also turned away U.S. military planes attempting to deport migrants to South America. Despite these challenges, deportations have continued, with military aircraft being deployed to transport migrants from U.S. detention centers in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
As the Trump administration carries out these sweeping deportations, the affected immigrant populations face an uncertain future, with many seeking legal avenues to remain in the U.S. amidst growing anxiety over their status. Whether or not these individuals can successfully avoid deportation depends largely on the outcomes of their legal proceedings, including applications for asylum or other forms of relief.
