Over 1,200 Kenyans living in the United States are facing deportation as former President Donald Trump intensifies immigration policies aimed at removing undocumented migrants.
This follows his administration’s promise of “mass deportations” and the revival of controversial measures under his first term.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, 1,282 Kenyan noncitizens are on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) non-detained docket with final orders of removal as of November 2024.
In total, there are over 1.4 million individuals in the same category across the US.
To expedite the policy, the US Department of Defense announced plans to provide military aircraft to deport more than 5,000 individuals currently detained by Border Patrol in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. ICE statistics reveal that over 1,000 people were deported on Thursday, marking the fourth day of the Trump administration.
Trump’s policy has not come without controversy. Over the weekend, deportation flights sparked a diplomatic dispute with Colombia after its government barred two military planes carrying deported Colombians from landing. President Gustavo Petro criticized the US for treating Colombian migrants “like criminals” and demanded dignified treatment. However, Colombia later accepted the flights following threats of punitive tariffs from the Trump administration.
The Trump administration has reinstated and expanded expedited deportation policies. Previously limited to areas within 100 miles of US borders, these removals now apply nationwide to undocumented migrants who cannot prove they have lived in the US for over two years.
This marks a stark contrast to President Joe Biden’s administration, which had discontinued many such measures. In 2024, Biden’s administration deported 271,000 immigrants and a total of 1.5 million during his term, a number comparable to Trump’s first term but significantly lower than the 2.9 million deportations under Barack Obama’s first term.
To enforce the new policies, the Pentagon has deployed an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern US border, bringing the total to 4,000. These troops are tasked with flying helicopters for surveillance, assisting Border Patrol agents, and constructing barriers to prevent illegal crossings.
Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses signaled that more troops could be sent soon, stating, “This is just the beginning.” The move is part of broader efforts to enhance border enforcement, which also includes halting the US refugee resettlement program and reviving the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
The reintroduction of Trump-era policies, such as the “Remain in Mexico” program, forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in US courts. Critics argue that this leaves migrants vulnerable to crime and exploitation.
Additionally, the Trump administration has scrapped the CBP One app, a tool introduced by the Biden administration to streamline migrant appointments. This has left tens of thousands of migrants stranded in Mexico, sparking protests and legal challenges from advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Mexico has begun constructing temporary shelters along its border cities to accommodate deportees. Dubbed “Mexico Embraces You,” the initiative aims to provide food, medical care, and reintegration assistance. However, concerns remain about the country’s capacity to manage the influx, especially as many migrants face political instability or violence in their home countries.
Other nations, including Guatemala, have launched similar programs to prepare for returning deportees. Despite these efforts, questions linger about whether these countries can safely and effectively reintegrate those being deported under Trump’s policies.
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