ICE lies in wait at airports for Kenyans and other foreigners with expired visas
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- ICE has stepped up arrests at US airports, targeting immigrants with expired visas, pending asylum cases and active work permits
- A Ugandan woman with sickle cell anaemia was reportedly detained despite having a live asylum application at the time of her arrest
- Immigration attorneys are warning noncitizens, including Kenyan nationals, to avoid domestic and international travel until their legal status is secure
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly intensified operations at airports across the country, raising alarm among thousands of immigrants, including Kenyan nationals, who remain in uncertain legal standing.
Immigration experts clarify that ICE is primarily targeting individuals who hold final orders of removal, meaning those without a stable residency status. The Trump administration is reportedly pursuing the deportation of such individuals, in some cases to third countries.
Who Is at Risk of ICE Arrest
The net is wider than many immigrants realise. Federal agents have arrested spouses of American citizens, tech workers and others whose visas have lapsed, including individuals with active applications still being processed. Those with pending court hearings, scheduled appointments or unresolved asylum claims are equally vulnerable.
ICE has been unambiguous in its position, stating:
"A 'work permit' and/or a pending asylum case does NOT confer any type of legal status in the United States or prevent ICE from arresting or deporting an illegal alien from the country."
The gravity of that stance was illustrated by the reported detention of a Ugandan woman living with sickle cell anaemia, who was allegedly arrested even though her asylum application was still active before the relevant authorities at the time.
Advice for Kenyan Nationals in the US
Kenyan nationals in the United States are among those directly affected by the escalating enforcement. Immigration attorneys are urging noncitizens to exercise extreme caution, particularly regarding travel.
While speaking to Berkleyside.org, Jazmin Preciado, an attorney with Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland, put it plainly:
"We are recommending that during this period of time, during this administration … if you don't have an urgent matter to travel for, even domestically, that you think about it to determine whether the risks are worth it."
For those who must travel, legal counsel is strongly advised before any movement. Consulting an immigration attorney beforehand could prove critical in avoiding detention, especially for those with pending applications or hearings.
The message to all immigrants in unclear legal situations is consistent: stay informed, stay cautious and do not assume that an active application or work authorisation offers protection from arrest.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.